Tag: Eli Manning

It’s not over ’til it’s over or is it ?

It’s not over ’til it’s over or is it ?

Well, week six in the NFL gave the fans a reason to believe this league has indeed decidedly taken a turn for the worse in terms of the play of the teams. Dire consequences were seen in the losses suffered by the New York Giants, New York Jets , Miami Dolphins , Jacksonville Jaguars , Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers . As to what this might suggest about these teams can be best judged by their respective records within their division, conference and league.

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As troubling as these results are said to be, other than the firing of Dennis Allen, formerly of the Oakland Raiders , there has yet to be second dismissal of an NFL head coach this season.The Raiders remain win-less and it is hard to imagine where their first victory is likely to come from , given the continually poor play of the team . A narrow three-point loss to divisional rivals the San Diego Chargers dampened the hopes of Oakland getting off the and so now we have a situation, where, there once again seems to be, lack of leadership on the roster and coaching acumen from the coaching staff led by interim head coach Tony Sparano .

In week seven the Raiders will face a tough test when they take on their former quarterback Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals in a home game at the Oakland Alameda County Stadium (O Coliseum) in Oakland, California . If Oakland are to save their season much less redeem themselves, then a win is of the utmost priority for Tony Sparano and his team. This is not a game, which the Cardinals are likely to take lightly, even if they are seen to be the prohibitive favorites among NFL analysts and fans alike. I would dare say, the odds-makers in Las Vegas are licking their lips , savoring what they seem to be the outcome of a game that on paper would </aappear to be lopsided and favoring the visiting team.

I’ll say this for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , they are increasingly finding new ways to embarrass themselves as players, their fans and the franchise as a whole. Lovie Smith has inherited a mess , but it now appears , he and his coaching staff are now piling on even more ineptitude with each passing week. A week four victory over the injury riddled Pittsburgh Steelers has been the sole bright spot for the, team but it should be noted the win was then followed by two consecutive losses, with the Buccaneers being outscored 85-48 in those defeats. Sunday’s loss was as embarrassing as the score suggests (48-17) , with fans at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa , Florida already leaving the venue before the beginning of the second half of the game , in their totally lopsided defeat, suffered at the hands of Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens</a>.

<a href=”http://pro-football-reference.com/players/McCoJo01.htm”> Josh McCown has not fared all that well as a starter this season and with the insertion of Mike Glennon into the lineup, things have gone from bad to worse , with absolutely no one on the team showing any signs of life. So much for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being seen as a likely challenger within the NFC South this season. About the only thing the Buccaneers might be on the road to challenging, has to be , who is actually the worst team in the NFL , not just by record but also in terms of sheer incompetence ?

There are several players on this current Buccaneers’ roster who are overpaid and not worth the salaries being paid out . GM Jason Licht may well have some serious decisions to make by the trade deadline and at the end of the season. In the short-term the team can be thankful , week seven is a bye-week , where they can lick their wounds and recuperate before proceeding to take on their next opponent the Minnesota Vikingsin week eight, a home game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III are two players who are likely to becomean enigma for Washington Redskins’ head coach Jay Gruden as he seeks to coach and guide the team this season. With the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles now locked in a tight divisional race within the NFC East , I can only surmise the Redskins’ chances have all but disappeared , likewise also, for the New York Giants.

Daniel ‘Dan’ Snyder may well be one of the wealthiest owners in the NFL , but the acumen now being shown within the front office of the organization he owns, can be best described as imbecilic and impetuous. Redskins’ GM Bruce Allen and his decision making has to be a cause of real concern, beyond the all too obvious inexperience of Jay Gruden as an NFL head coach. The Washington Redskins (1-5) are now firmly rooted at the bottom of the division and coming off their 30-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the question has become , where does the team now go from here ? Up or down ? Taking their their play, I am inclined to believe the worst is yet to come !

Fedex Field, in Landover , Maryland, scene to some of the Washington Redskins’ greatest regular season triumphs will seek to add to that famed legacy when the team plays host to the Tennessee Titans this upcoming Sunday,19th October , 2014. With a great deal at stake , both teams will be seeking a much-needed victory. The contest could go either way but a great deal will be predicated upon the resolve shown by the opposing quarterbacks, likely to be Kirk Cousins and a fully recuperated Jake Locker , or whose backups on the Titans’ depth chart are Charlie Whitehurst and Zack Mettenberger.

Last season , Eli Manning made the statement , he believed , he remains one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Granted, as a two-time winning Superbowl quarterback he has every right to believe it to be the case, Yet, his statistics do not bear that out in 2013 or this season as we enter week seven of the NFL schedule . The New York Giants (3-3) are laboring under a great of pressure and with the loss of wide receiver Victor Cruz the team’s issues are now further exacerbated by his season ending injury.

Tom Coughlin head coach of the Giants’ most recent Superbowl successes is likely to be under the microscope over the remainder of the season. The front office are acutely aware of the team’s issues and the likelihood the head coach could be fired , there is a thought GM Jerry Reese could make the decision to fire the head coach. Coughlin appears to have lost the confidence of the team beyond the fact of the team’s injury woes and lack of consistency shown this season, borne out by the Giants’ 3-3 record . What may well push the front office to take some action could be the lack of determination shown when the New York Giants lost their week six contest , a 27-0 blowout loss to Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles . The game itself, was simply horrendous to watch from the standpoint of being a Giants’ fan as the team could do nothing right from the first snap of the ball until the final whistle was blown to end the match-up in the fourth quarter.

Eli Manning’s own future with the New York Giants could come into question, as there seems to be a belief the player lacks the drive and determination to lead this team. He has to my mind, simply rested on his laurels, because of the two Superbowl victories, rather than seeking to improve his play and set future goals and priorities . Not due to become a free agent until 2016 , Manning could become a sought after commodity should the Giants not seek to re-sign the player, but it appears highly unlikely he will be cut by the franchise, with the team having few alternatives as a backup to Eli Manning. The Giants will be the guests of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium, in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, in a divisional contest where the Cowboys will be seeking to increase their lead within the NFC East over their divisional rivals.

In the contest, it will be interesting to see whether or not Cowboys’ running back DeMarco Murray can make it seven straight games of rushing for 100 yards or more , something achieved only by Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown when he ran for seven consecutive games of over one hundred yards in 1958 . This is a feat never achieved at all by legendary Cowboys’ rusher Emmitt Smith over the course of his career.

The Dallas Cowboys are playing like a team on a mission, with Tony Romo having his best start to a season in quite a long time with the team on a five-game winning streak which places them atop of the NFC East as well as having the best record in the NFC and league overall based on their streak . In this match-up against the New York Giants , I firmly believe the only way the Cowboys can incur a loss , is if they become complacent and simply believe they can look at this contest as a cakewalk . Over the last three seasons these divisional match-ups with between the two divisional rivals have brought the best and the worst in both teams. DeMarco Murray , alongside Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning are considered to be the front-runners for the AP League MVP, a title wonby the Broncos’ quarterback a record five times since 2003.

The more things change the more they remain the same and it could be said the call for the departure of Mark Sanchez from the New York Jets , where the final two years of his career with the franchise saw highs and many lows, brought about the call for change. The Jets’ drafting of quarterback Geno Smith was seen as a step in the right direction, but who could have foreseen Smith’s career with the Jets could be described as an unmitigated disaster. Smith has yet to show the alleged talents which made him a star at West Virginia .

Rex Ryan and his hapless coaching staff have led the team to a 1-5 start to their season in the AFC East. All of the rhetoric and pragmatism in the world cannot hide the fact the Jets are a very mediocre team with their being no vocal leaderon the roster, much less among the coaching staff. As if to emphasize the problems of the New York Jets this season , consider the fact in their most recent outing against the Denver Broncos , the team was blown out 31-17 , with their being no signs they were in a position to score a point , through a field goal attempt , passing or rushing touchdown. Defensively , the team was found wanting and Geno Smith’s performance was among the worst in week six of the starting quarterbacks on the day.

For the Jets their season, is now mired in mediocrity and there seems to be little sign, either Smith or his backup Michael Vick can lead the team out of their abyss. Things will not get any easierin the New York Jets’ next game when they are scheduled to meet AFC East divisional leaders the New England Patriots. With Tom Brady and the Patriots coming off their decisive win over the Buffalo Bills , this game against New England could place Rex Ryan’s job in a great deal of danger, should the team come away from this game with a loss. Jets’ GM John Idzik will have to make a long-term decision concerning his head coach and the coaching staff at the end of the season , because it has become abundantly clear , the coach has no real solution for the team’s ongoing woes.

The shakeup has begun and what was meant to be a two-horse race within the NFC West , is becoming a story of resurrection, though not necessarily redemption for Carson Palmer, as the Arizona Cardinals are riding high in the division , where last season it was something of a lottery pick, as the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks toughed it out it out for divisional supremacy. The Seahawks came away with the Superbowl , with Russell Wilson having a spectacular postseason for the team. This season, both the Forty Niners and Seattle have faltered , allowing the Cardinals to take advantage of a division in the midst of what appears to be a shift in dominance.

If Bruce Arians can lead lead the Cardinals into the postseason, then there is the likelihood, he would be seen as a clear favorite to win the NFL Coach of the Year Award . I don’t believe there are any other close candidates, albeit, some might want to suggest Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys is worthy of a mention because of the team’s early season start , but the season having already entered the second quarter of the season, there still remains a a great deal to play for , starting with week seven. Arizona will be the guests of the Oakland Raiders, who still seek their first win of the season, something I cannot see happening in this upcoming game , as I believe the Raiders are simply lacking in confidence, with Tony Sparano not being a great motivator of players, given his past head coaching experience and record .

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Through the first six games of this season what do you believe has been the biggest highlight of the year and which team or teams would you say have been the most disappointing ? Of the players said to be at the forefront of the League MVP race , which performance or set of performances have stood out the most ? By all means, do take time to leave a comment on this and anything else you believe is content related to this article and thanks as always for the continued support of this site !

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Picture and slideshow gallery details below.
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(1) Head coach Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants cheers on his team as they warm up before the start of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 12, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Giants suffered a 27-0 loss to the Eagles for one of the most lopsided defeats suffered by the team in a match-up between the two teams over the past eight seasons. Getty Images /Rich Schulz …

(2) Quarterback Eli Manning (10) of the New York Giants throws a pass during a football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 12, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images / Evan Habeeb …

(3) Quarterback Eli Manning (10) of the New York Giants is sacked by Trent Cole (58) of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter in a football game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 12, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images / Rich Schulz …

(4) Torrey Smith (82) of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a nine-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. Getty Images North America / Joe Robbins …

(5) Mike Glennon (8) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks to throw a pass in the first half of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. Getty Images / Joe Robbins …

(6) Quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) of the Washington Redskins talks with head coach Jay Gruden after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars at FedExField on September 14, 2014 in Landover, Maryland. It was one of the few times during the season where the Redskins have played with some consistency , albeit , it was against a rather dull Jaguars’ team . Getty Images/ Patrick Smith …

(7) Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden talks with his quarterbacks, Robert Griffin III (10) and Kirk Cousins (8) during a first half timeout against the New England Patriots on August 7, 2014 in Landover, MD. Getty Images / Mark Hart ….

(8) Free safety Barry Church (42) of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) of the Seattle Seahawks in the end zone during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 12, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images North America / Steve Dykes …

(9) Running back DeMarco Murray (29) of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) of the Dallas Cowboys after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 12, 2014 in Seattle,Washington. Steve Dykes / Getty Images …

(10) Demaryius Thomas (88) span> of the Denver Broncos runs the ball in the first quarter during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 12, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Getty Images / Elsa Martinez …

(11) Geno Smith (7) of the New York Jets and Peyton Manning (18) of the Denver Broncos on October 12, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The Denver Broncos defeated the New York Jets 31-17 . The two opposing quarterbacks had differing results on the day , borne out by their respective statistics . . Getty Images/ Elsa Martinez ….

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She comes baring some delightful fruits .

” The Tampa-Two Defense” now a takes on a whole new meaning , when Wendy Fiore comes into focus, unlike the Bucs’ defense which was nowhere to be seen this past Sunday .

We love our records ! Not vinyl, but sports’ records

We love our records ! Not vinyl, but sports’ records

In light of Peyton Manning’s demise alongside his teammates of the Denver Broncos in their now historic loss , in which they suffered defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks . It is now my belief, that was the last appearance that we will see of Manning in a Superbowl contest! One victory in three Superbowl appearances and one could surmise that the window of opportunity for the quarterback to join a select few of his peers with at least two Superbowl victories and rings to their name, has now actually closed . This kind of makes me wonder if there is a sibling rivalry between Peyton and his younger brother Eli Manning , who has captured two victories in the NFL’s postseason finale, along with an Superbowl MVP award to adorn his trophy cabinet .

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As the quarterback of the Denver Broncos , Peyton Manning had an extraordinary year, having smashed the single season passing yards’ record, as well as the single season passing touchdowns’ mark. As spectacular as those feats were , the disappointment of that Superbowl loss , has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Broncos’ players and leaving the front office of the organization completely bewildered as to the magnitude of the defeat. Let’s just say, that team owner, Pat Bowlen and John Elway , President of Football Operations, himself being no stranger to the postseason disappointment of a Superbowl appearance. Elway, as a member of the Denver Broncos , made five appearances in the Superbowl, but rode out on a career-high, having won the last two , on his way to a Hall of Fame induction in Canton, Ohio, at the culmination of his career.

Now we could start to prognosticate as to where Peyton Manning ranks amongst the best quarterbacks to have ever played the game, but with his career, yet to come to an end . Would it be remiss to suggest, that he no longer has what it takes to win at the highest level? With the right weapons around him, Manning was able to achieve success this past season , in the regular and postseason , but we all saw , that the Superbowl contest , clearly showed that the Denver Broncos were not ready to play and they were simply overwhelmed by the Seattle Seahawks . This off-season could prove to be an eventful one for the Broncos’ front office with John Elway , Matt Russell , Tom Heckert in conjunction with John Fox assessing the player personnel needs, with the likelihood of several players on the roster not likely to return for next season .

Peyton Manning within the next two years , should he make the decision to return for the 2014 season , is likely to make a full assault on the career touchdowns’ passing mark of 508 held by Brett Favre as well as the career yards’ passing record also held by the former .. Green Bay Packers’ quarterback. At present the Broncos’ quarterback leads all active players in terms of passing yards, passing touchdowns , pass attempts , completions , career comeback wins , and interceptions , Manning I believe having been on the wrong end of two defeats in the Superbowl, would like nothing better than to redeem himself and that of Broncos’ teammates in making one last attempt to win a second title . As I alluded to earlier, I do believe that Superbowl 48 was indeed the last time we will have seen the five-time league MVP having appeared in the NFL’s postseason finale.

Elway and John Fox will likely spend part of this off-season with behind the scenes closed-door discussions with their heralded quarterback, seeking his input on the weapons he feels best needed, in order for the Broncos to take that next step to a Superbowl victory . Contemplating the future of free agents, such as Knowshon Moreno, Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eric Decker, Dan Koppen, Zane Beadles, Trindon Holliday , Michael Huff and others may well prove to be difficult . Yet the likelihood will be , the team will have to forsake a number of these free agents in order again to their advantage , while also preparing for the NFL Draft and the prospective litany of free agents that will hit the market during this off-season . The Broncos will be in a significantly advantageous position, as their cap figure will not be to their detriment , where they will have in excess of $11 million of cap room available the front office make deals as they see fit.

As talented as Dez Bryant is said to be, his career is still in its infancy , and with his off-the field behavioral issues beyond team owner , Jerry Jones coddling him like a child . I find the player to be an ingrate and someone with a lack of respect of others as well as for the game ! Bryant, a wide receiver with continually overrated Dallas Cowboys , during this past season, made the claim that he was good enough to be placed alongside both Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald , two of the best wide receivers to have entered the NFL over the past eight years. . Johnson has already cemented his legacy in NFL history having surpassed the single season receiving yards’ mark of Hall of Fame legend Jerry Rice , the greatest wide receiver in NFL history and perhaps one of the top-five players to have played the game at any position within the NFL . Fitzgerald has consistently proven to be a top-ten at the wide receiver, since his entrance into the league , having played his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals , a team who this past season proved to be possible future threat to the f supremacy within the now all so competitive NFC West , which over the past seasons seems to have been a two-horse race between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco Giants.

The Cardinals’ wide receiver now ranks fifth amongst active players in terms of receiving yards, with 11,367 yards on his career resumes’. In terms of career yardage , he has a considerable way to go before surpassing Jerry Rice’s mark of mark of 22,985 yards. The one NFL record , which I believe is unlikely to be surpassed , because of the consistency and longevity needed ! If both Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald continue at their present pace , both are likely to be a “lock “ for induction into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio , upon the end of their respective NFL careers. If Dez Bryant truly wants to be seen as one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL , then beyond the ongoing woeful ineptitude that exists with the Dallas Cowboys , he will have to prove also that he can be a game changer and lead by example , not just from a playing standing point, but also as a vocal leader on the team. Because in reality , the presumed leadership skills or qualities, have never been shown by Tony Romo or perhaps the best player on the roster , tight end Jason Witten , who has carved out an exceptional career playing career for the franchise, without having a Superbowl ring to show for his stellar efforts.

I have written with depth and at great length, concerning the woes of the Dallas Cowboys and do not wish to add much more to that content within this site ! Except that, if you so wish , you are welcomed to peruse the articles in question and add your input on the points raised.

Say what you will for this past NFL season, in terms of the season highlights , the game reigns supreme, as it still resonates with the masses . The events of the Superbowl notwithstanding, the fans will now await to see further stories are likely come to the fore , with the upcoming NFL Draft .

Another supreme career within baseball is about to come to an end , once the regular season reaches its finality . With Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, making it known that this season will be his last in Yankees’ Pinstripes. One can perhaps now begin to ask where the player ranks amongst the all-time greats to have adorned the team’s uniform as well as gauging his contributions to the franchise . A five-time World Series’ champion , Series’ MVP , AL Rookie of the Year but having never won the AL MVP , as well as a multiple time All Star , the player’s resume` is littered accolades and accomplishments , that his departure from the ball-club , will be the last vestiges of the corps of players who alongside then manager Joe Torre , won four World Series , having made six appearances in baseball’s postseason finale between 1996 through to 2005. The short-stop’s last championship game in 2009 , with Joe Girardi helming the team as the manager , with the Yankees’ win over the hapless Philadelphia Phillies in a 4-2 series’ win.

With noted Hall of Famers from the New York Yankees’ rich baseball history , such as Lou Gehrig , Babe Ruth , Reggie Jackson , Micky Mantle , Wade Boggs , Dave Winfield, Jim ‘Catfish’ Hunter , Joe DiMaggio and Phil Rizzuto. In trying to assess where Derek Jeter would rank amongst those players would take a great deal of deliberation . The game has undoubted changed over the course of the last eight decades plus. Yet, the statistics cannot lie when trying make a case for the soon to be retired Yankees shortstop. If there is one thing that truly stands out concerning Jeter’s stature in terms of personal statistics , it may well be his on-base and slugging percentage (OPS) .

With all of the acquisitions made by the New York Yankees during the off-season , which is likely to push the team’s payroll slightly northwards of $200 million . I cannot now help but wonder, how the organization will seek to market the farewell of one the franchise’s and baseball’s most beloved figures over the past two decades. Former teammates, Andy Pettite and Mariano Rivera bowed out last season , in what was jointly their last years with the franchise. Rivera, the all-time career saves’ leader, for the New York Yankees, as well as in Major League Baseball, that may well stand the test of time given the present environment within the game. Pettite’s career can simply summed with the words, most postseason wins in baseball history as a starting pitcher, and five World Series’ titles tend to bolster a career resumes’ as well. A great deal will now be expected of this New York Yankees’ lineup , given the fact that Derek Jeter will start his farewell tour in 2014 and no doubt the team’s season series against the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays , the franchise’s most celebrated rivalries in recent years, will likely take on a whole new meaning. As visitors to the venues of the Red Sox and Rays, Fenway Park and Tropicana Field are likely to be sold out for each of those series’ games.

Issues asides , brought on by the Alex Rodriguez saga , with the player now having to sit out the entire 2014 schedule. How the Yankees now acquit themselves under the guidance of Joe Girardi and his staff will tell us a great deal about the mindset of this team and also whether or not Derek Jeter will be back to his very best after a season, in which, 2013 saw him sidelined and limited a handful of games as the team missed the postseason foray . As I alluded to earlier , with this announcement of the player’s departure the expectations are likely to be high , with the view that the Yankees are to be viewed as a favorite for the World Series. What better way, for the heralded shortstop to bow out, than his winning a sixth World Series’ title. Fourteen other teams, within the AL, are likely to have a different perspective on the issue , no doubt.

With the NBA season having reached its halfway point and about to have their annual All Star Game break . It will be interesting to see what behind the scenes moves are made as teams seek to make use of the break to engineer trades that will likely make or break their seasons , when the regular season calendar schedule resumes. From my own perspective , the first half of the NBA schedule was something of a blur , with the Eastern Conference in particular, offering the fans , the usual incompetent displays , with the actual play, now beyond mediocre . The top two teams within the conference , the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat , seem bound for another conference finals’ series match-up. One that could clearly go in favor of the Pacers , if Frank Vogel’s players continue at the present pace in terms their play and perform as a cohesive unit.

It may not feel like a lifetime ago, since Carmelo Anthony almost single-handed, exploited a bad Charlotte Bobcats team on his way to a career-high sixty-two points in the New York Knicks’ win over their conference rivals within the East. Subsequently , the Knicks have continued to throw in some rather tawdry performances , and yet their fans continue to make all types of excuses for the team’s mundane play . If at this juncture , Carmelo Anthony , still remains unconvinced that his best options lay elsewhere , concerning his ambitions to win an NBA title , then to my mind he is not deserving of the opportunity to move on elsewhere ! He is being asked to carry way too much a burden, night in and night out , while his teammates simply look on , without rarely coming to his aid and contributing positively . Head coach, Mike Woodson for his part, now seems completely out of his depth , along with an unimaginative coaching staff .

Coming off two consecutive losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings , respectively , it is becoming increasingly easy to understand why the Knicks remain a moribund franchise , ran by an unimaginative front office and owned by James Dolan , who remains simply clueless, as to what it takes, to run a successful sports’ franchise. Madison Square Garden , one of the NBA’s most venerable venues , might as well be an elephants’ graveyard , because in terms of competitive and entertaining basketball , it is definitely not on view there by , way of the performances of the New York Knicks . The press within that New York media market, may well try to spin the idiocy of what takes place with the franchise , but in reality , mediocrity cannot be disguised for anything else , than for what it really just happens to be. Steve Mills , general manager of the Knicks , may well be have to consult with James Dolan and Mike Woodson concerning Carmelo Anthony’s immediate future, because should he make the decision to opt out of his contract and seek to test the free agency market , the Knicks could up with nothing in return . They can either, seek to trade the player or gamble, that he might seek to return and re-sign with the team.

Through the first half of this season, the two most dominant players in the NBA , have been , Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and LeBron James of the Miami Heat , currently the reigning NBA champions. One might seek to add, the Indiana Pacers’ swing-man, Paul George , as stock has risen , along with that of the Pacers and their conference leading mark within the East. In terms of the NBA Most Valuable Player race, James with his four titles , joins a select group of players to have won the award more than twice . Durant, seeks to add that piece of silverware to his trophy cabinet, having already won multiple NBA scoring titles . Yet this season, Durant , is driven , I believe, by the fact that last season , but even more so, the team’s efforts of the 2012-13 season , were to end so disappointingly, with a series’ loss in the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat. That I believe, has been the driving force behind Kevin Durant’s year and that of his teammates , as led by head coach Scott Brooks and his coaching staff .

If Durant and the supporting cast of the Thunder, are to prevail this season, which I believe that they are quite capable of doing! Then a possible match-up in this season’s NBA Finals, against either the Indiana Pacers or Miami Heat could very well a postseason finale well worth watching. What better way for incoming Commissioner Adam Silver to celebrate his elevation to the league’s highest ranking executive position !

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Do you believe that records long revered within professional sports , still mean something to this day , even with the growing trend within some areas , for athletes to circumvent the rules and cheat ? Chime in, with your thoughts on this and anything else you believe to be pertinent to the subject matter.

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Picture and slideshow details below .

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(1) Five-time NFL League MVP , Peyton Manning leaves the field after the Denver Broncos’ humiliating loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Superbowl . The defeat was one of the largest margins of victory (48-3) in a the NFL’s postseason finale. For Manning , it was his third appearance the even and his second loss in an NFL title game. AP Photo / Reed Martin ….

(2) Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway and Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen , left, gather for a photo during an NFL football news conference at the team’s headquarters Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, in Englewood, Colo., where Elway was named the team’s executive vice president of football operations. The former Broncos’ quarterback made five appearances in the Superbowl all with the franchise , having won two titles in his five visits to postseason event. AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski ….

(3) Brett Favre , now retired is the NFL all-time leader in career passing touchdowns as well as career passing yards . Should Peyton Manning return for the 2014-15 NFL season, then the career passing touchdowns’ mark is likely to be broken at some point during the regular season . Favre’s career passing yards’ mark of 71,838 yards ranks first all-time , leading the second placed Manning by over 6,874 yards . Peyton Manning’s career yardage total of 64,964 ranks first amongst all active quarterbacks now playing in the NFL . Getty Images North America / Richard Hart …..

(4) Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is seen here with teammate Tony Romo (9) prior to the start of an NFL game. Bryant, believes himself to be the equal of experienced receivers Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions and the St Louis Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald . A first round draft pick by the Cowboys in the 2010 NFL Draft , the player has proven to be talented , but also something of a malcontent when things do no got go his way . AP Photo / Marc Carson …

(5) Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald (11) right , are seen here meeting on-field at the end of NFL game between the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals . The two players represent a new breed of athletic and speedy wide receivers to have entered the NFL over the past eight seasons . Matt Farmer / Engle Inc archives ….

(6) Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees is seen here addressing the convened press . The player has made it known that this will be his final season in baseball , after a two-decade career which has seen him win just about every individual honor that the game has to offer with the exception of the AL MVP award. Jeter will leave the game ranked in the upper echelons in a number of offensive and defensive categories with the baseball franchise.

(7) LeBron James of the Miami Heat is seen here alongside Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both players are currently seen as the frontrunners for this season’s NBA MVP Award with their being no other serious contenders for the game’s highest individual regular season award. Durant and James are respectively the leading scorers for the Heat and Thunder as well as being amongst the leading scorers within the NBA this season . Both players also , have each won an NBA scoring title . A Finals’ title and Finals Series’ MVP award are the only things currently missing from Durant’s already extraordinary NBA career . AP Photo / Matthew Clarke ….

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Groundhog Day ….. Circa 2008 & 2012

Groundhog Day Circa 2008 & 2012 ….

By tophatal ………..

Well the NFL season has now come to a fitting end with all of the chapters having been written in terms of the regular , postseason and Superbowl 46 (SBXLVI) . The fact that this game lived up to all of the hype and great deal more left the fans completely satisfied with the outcome , albeit that Mrs Brady aka supermodel Gisele Bundchen is now apportioning blame elsewhere for the woes of the New England Patriots during this game.

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Slide show for your perusal .

As a die-hard Patriots’ fan this past weekend for me was literally filled with highs and lows . On the one hand , I saw what I thought was a gallant effort from the New England Patriots for two and half quarters , only to see Bill Belichick’s players squander the opportunities that came their way , simply to let them slip away . Mario Manningham meet David Tyree and vice versa . Now , two unsung heroes whose game-day heroics will now live in NFL postseason and New Giants’ history . And what else can now be said as to the season heroics of Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning who not only has he solidified his position as a quarterback but he now has the upper-hand on his elder sibling Peyton Manning in terms of Superbowls won and the number Superbowl MVP’s tallied over their respective careers. But now there are some who are now being bold enough to suggest that Eli may well have the better career than that of his older brother . Hold you horses folks but when I last looked Peyton had yet to suggest that his days in the NFL were in fact over . That being said , with the idiocy now engulfing the Indianapolis Colts’ franchise it could very well be that the drama yet to unfold within the organization could now take on a life of its own concerning the player and the team owner Jim Irsay .

The loss will reverberate throughout the New England area but at the same time this 21-17 victory was in so many ways reminiscent of Superbowl 42 (SBXLII) and the events that took place during that particular game . Once again the New York Giants would prevail , denying the New England Patriots their fourth Superbowl title . There now has to be the thought that this scene of deja-vu or to my mind Groundhog Day is going to cause some consternation for the Patriots and their fans . Nonetheless , time heals all wounds and to my mind nothing heals better than several glasses of hard liquor , preferably some premium Malt whiskey !

Now when you have players such as Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker running routes and having the type of success they had during the regular season for the team , only to see them during this Superbowl drop passes from Tom Brady as if their hands had been greased with oil says to me one of two things ! Sunday simply wasn’t to be the Patriots’ day , never mind the fact that the team’s defense reverted back to their ways of the regular season . Oh God, how often must I now pray merely for you to answer my prayers ? All I wanted was for this one moment , where , were ere things to align for the organization and simply allow us ( Patriots’ fans) a sense of redemption ! The events of 2008 still haunt me , not that I break out in a cold sweat but Tyree’s improbable reception and then for Eli Manning to rifle a pass through the Patriots secondary for Plaxico Burress to catch the winning touchdown pass . Well that giant shadow still sets the New England Patriots in something of a quandary.

Circa 2012, and now it’s Mario Manningham ………… a sense of foreboding hits me then , as he caught that missile from his teammate and once again the Pats’ secondary was simply exposed . Pardon me for saying this , but how many times can a team be so inconsistent wherein Bill Belihick and his coaching staff simply appears to do nothing to address what had essentially become the Patriots’ Achilles’ Heel ? I have asked this question countless times over the course of the Pats’ regular season and postseason schedule in terms of the team’s play . And yet there has been no answer as to the apparent reasons why . Certainly the head coach seems unwilling to address the situation in spite of his coaching mindset as being a defensive guru . Well , I can now categorically state that Bill Belichick is no Dick LeBeau , not by long shot and then some . Furthermore , Giants’ defensive coordinator Perry Fewell might now be the best defensive coordinator in the NFL , given the players at his disposal and their performances over the course of this regular and postseason .

New York Giants’ coach Tom Coughlin now joins Bill Parcells as a two-time winning Superbowl head coach for the franchise . Coughlin now finds himself being mentioned in the same breath as many of the legendary great NFL head coaches as he’s now writing his very own legacy . Now in the top 10 of all-time coaches in terms of wins the Giants’ coach joins a select group of coaches to have won multiple Superbowl’s with the same organization . It is becoming apparent that Belichick’s biggest nemesis in the past five years just happens to be a former associate who shares the same coaching pedigree as himself , as both have been assistants to the legendary Bill Parcells . Speaking of which , somehow the voters who adjudicate the voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame saw fit to not to include the former Giants’ head coach for induction as part of the 2012 class of inductees . Clearly the writers who cover the NFL have an integrity problem because it is befuddling to think that Bill Parcells having met the eligibility requirements is now overlooked along with Cris Carter , a player who just happens to be one of a select group of players to have over 1,000 career receptions . Perhaps it’s me , but my question for those overseeing this procedure , what it is that they are simply looking for in terms of the requirements to be enshrined in Canton , Ohio ? Is it a matter now of subjectivity or objectivity ? Clearly something is awry or this is simply now about favoritism because the integrity of the Hall of Fame in terms of its process is now shot to hell !

For Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft and the front office led by Nick Caserio this off-season will be about reviewing the whole process of the why’s and wherefore’s as to what went wrong and when . I can only surmise that this roster will be overhauled with a number of players being superfluous to their needs . I somehow get the feeling that there is some indifference amongst many Patriots’ fans as to a number of decisions made by Bill Belichick over the course of this season . To my mind the most glaring that now stands out is the acquisition of Chad Ochocinco , paying him $4 million and getting absolutely nothing at all in return by way of the player’s productivity over the course of this season ! Over-rated , overpaid and now hopefully , unwanted !

13

There’s a chance we could see these two very same teams meet again in 2016 isn’t there ? Your thoughts ? Who doesn’t love Punxsatawney Phil ?

Kudos to the New York Giants on their success and that of their fans in terms of their conduct and sportsmanship ! The game may well have been very adversarial and competitive but I for one totally enjoyed the thrills , spills and excitement to be found ! If nothing else , I can acknowledge that the better team won on the day but hopefully we’ll meet once again under the same set of circumstances but hopefully , next time around the result won’t be the same .

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

What if anything to your mind changed the face of the game during Superbowl 46 and were you at all surprised by the end result ? By all means do chime in with a comment .

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Picture and slide show details.

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(1) Perhaps the most famous reception in Superbowl history David Tyree’s acrobatic catch in Superbowl 42 (SB XLII ) . The New York Giants would go on to defeat the New England Patriots 17-14 in a game played at Phoenix Stadium , Glendale , Arizona. AFP / Arturo Morales ………..

(2) New York Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham (82) catches a pass ahead of New England Patriots defensive back Sterling Moore , center, and safety .Patrick Chung , left, during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game , Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez ….

(3) INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 05: New York Giants defenders knock down the football from Aaron Hernandez (81) of the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter during the game against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images ….

(4) Steve Weatherford (5) of the New York Giants celebrates after the Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 to win Super Bowl XLVI as Tom Brady looks on at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images ……

(5) New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin waves as he walks off the field after his team’s 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. AP Photo/David J. Phillip ….

(6) INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 05: Quarterback Tom Brady (12) of the New England Patriots speaks to the media after losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images …….

(7) ” Don’t worry Tom when we get home I’ll let you ‘butter my biscuits ‘ ” ! New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, leave the stadium after the Patriots lost 21-17 to the New York Giants in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. AP Photo/Mark Humphrey ….

(8) Quarterback Eli Manning of the New York Giants celebrates following their 21-17 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots on February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Manning was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after completing 30-of-40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown . AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY ….

(9) A man at the crossroads ? Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots walks off the field after losing to the New York Giants 21-17 during Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images …..

(10) NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 07: New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch walks onto the stage as the team is honored at City Hall Plaza following a ticker-tape parade in Manhattan for the second time in four years after winning the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots on February 7, 2012 in New York City. The Giants beat the Patriots 21-17 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on February 5. The New York parade started at Battery Place and continued through the financial district, an area known as the “Canyon of Heroes,” to be followed by a rally at their home MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images ….

(11) NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 07: Quarterback Eli Manning of the New York Giants walks onto stage as the team is honored at City Hall Plaza following a ticker-tape parade in Manhattan for the second time in four years after winning the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots on February 7, 2012 in New York City. The Giants beat the Patriots 21-17 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on February 5. The New York parade started at Battery Place and continued through the financial district, an area known as the “Canyon of Heroes,” to be followed by a rally at their home MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images …..

(12) Three ‘tweets’ and a partridge in a pear tree . Chad Ochocinco (85) of the New England Patriots makes a catch against the New York Giants during Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images ………

(13) There’s a chance we could see these two very same teams meet again in 2016 isn’t there ? Your thoughts ?

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NFL news

New England Patriots’ news

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New England Patriots 17-21 New York Giants

‘Giants postseason stats

Patriots’ postseason stats

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Ludacris feat’g Shawnna …………. “Stand Up ……. When I Move You Move ”

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and

Jenny Poussin and Amber Easton . Whose ” biscuits ” would you prefer to butter ?

Since When Did Mediocrity In The NFL Become Synonymous With The State of New York And In Particular New York City ?

Since When Did Mediocrity In The NFL Become Synonymous With The State of New York And In Particular New York City ?

I sat and watched three NFL games over this past weekend and in doing so I saw all three teams within New York State literally fall apart at the seams. The Buffalo Bills , New York Giants and New York Jets have respectively seen their seasons simultaneously come apart at the seams. The Bills were ripped apart like a hyena feasting on the carcass of a dead animal. So much so that Tom Brady and the New England Patriots weren’t at all tested by the lowly Bills in an AFC East divisional matchup. Suffice to say that by the second half the result of this game was a foregone conclusion .

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It’s hard to see how this Bills’ coaching staff can return to the organization next season as there’s little to really suggest that this team is actually heading in the right direction. Head coach Chan Gailey hasn’t really been able to gain the confidence of this team and there’s no reason to believe that the front office can truly believe that he’s the answer to what’s really needed for this team from a coaching standpoint. Gailey in all probability will be a coaching casualty in the offseason.

The New York Jets for all of the perceived hype surrounding this team have been literally in a downward spiral since their merciless beating ( 45-3)at the hands of the New England Patriots . And as a reminder to a somewhat opinionated patron of my site who suggested to me that Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez is a player who’s not restrained by the playbook of coach Rex Ryan . Anyone who witnessed what took place in the game against the Chicago Bears really needs to look intensely at the game between the two teams. Sanchez and his teammates were inept on both sides of the ball. And anyone who’s of the belief that this defense is good enough to even to stop the run much less the pass really needs to look at this team in great depth. Not only that but Sanchez when placed under a great deal of pressure becomes like a deer caught in headlights. I guess that patron really doesn’t know what the hell he’s actually talking about as he must simply watch these games through rose colored glasses ? The 38-34 loss to the Bears itself though not entirely surprising adds fuel to the fire that the Jets in recent weeks have become all too complacent and wrapped up in their own belief that they’re now amongst the elite within the NFL . Is it any wonder that Rex Ryan breathed a sigh of relief once he found out that the Jacksonville Jaguars had essentially foregone their chance of making the playoffs by losing to the
Washington Redskins — ( 20-17 ) in overtime at Everbank Field (Alltel Stadium) , in Jacksonville,Florida.

Jay Cutler and the Bears’ offense were allowed to run wild all over the Jets and for any of the Jets’ fans out there they can’t be entirely happy with what they’re now witnessing from their team or the coaching staff on the whole. Rex Ryan has to be extremely disappointed with what he’s now witnessing from his team. And you’d be hard pressed to suggest that even with a favorable seeding as a wildcard in the playoffs that the New York Jets would be successful in the divisional rounds . There’s a great deal that needs to be addressed with this team on both sides of the ball.

I know that the New York Giants must be shellshocked after their shellacking by the Philadelphia Eagles . But what took place against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field where this Packers’ team led by Aaron Rodgers had several members of their roster team on the injured reserve list but they simply laid the wood to the Giants and made Tom Coughlin’s position with the team now look all the more precarious . It certainly didn’t help that the Giants turned the ball over eight times during the game with quarterback Eli Manning throwing four interceptions. I guess $100 million in this day and age doesn’t get you a great deal at all ! As to Manning being given a pass because he’s led the team to a Superbowl may well mean a lot but t the NFL nowadays has become more about what have you done for me lately and not what you did yesterday ! The Giants are now in so much of a tailspin that were they in a popularity contest their approval rating would be lower than that of the Democrats and the members of Congress and Senate . To say that the Giants are stinking up the joint would be an understatement as the team now makes fecal matter smell a great deal better than a bouquet of red roses .

The city of New York is a proud one that looks upon its professional sports franchises with a great deal of pride especially when it comes to their baseball and football teams. But in essence what those fans have been witnessing recently now seems to resemble mediocrity to the “nth degree” . As good as the teams mentioned are perceived to be it’s hard to believe that simply based on their form at present that they’re simply good enough to be even thought as being amongst the elite within the NFL at present ! And say what you will about the fans in New York but when their teams tend to play badly rarely at times do you simply hear those fans come out and be openly critical of their teams. Instead they remain obnoxious self opinionated and not always willing to accept criticism when it’s aimed their way.

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

What thoughts if any do you have about how all three New York teams have played in Week 16 ? And how do you now see the future of the Giants and Jets as they embark on their postseason ambitions ?

NB Week 17 schedule

NFL news

NFL Divisional Standings

NFL Team Statistics — Defense & Offense

NFL Players’ Stats …..

NFL Tie break procedures

Alan aka tophatal ……………………………………..

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Eye candy … Rosa Acosta does her bit to enhance this model courtesy of Lowrider Magazine.com

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Nikki Lowri shows that she too is a fine figure of a woman !

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Take A Walk On The Wild Side ……………….

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

In the cold light of day this upcoming season within the NFL will tell us a great deal about a number of teams. The NFC East in particular with a number of teams having made changes in their rosters. There’s a belief that finally we could see the Washington Redskins actually amount to something. Having acquired Donovan McNabb in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles . It looks as if Dan Snyder might finally have the quarterback the organization desires. Well with McNabb and a new coach in Mike Shanahan now joining the team . It could we be that the tide could be turning for the team and the organization. However the caveat may well be that each season the expectations are high but more often than not they end up to be a disappointment.

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Slide-show for your perusal . Use the arrow indicators to move the slide-show frames in the direction needed.

Now while the Redskins are looking to be a competitive force within the division the other occupants are looking to do likewise. The Dallas Cowboys , Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants are looking to make their own waves within the division. And for their part the Giants are looking to redeem themselves as a team who’ve under achieved. If anything, one could say that apart from their Superbowl_(SBXLII) winning season the Giants have remained extremely quiet over the last couple of years. There’s continual talk as to the perceived expectations of the Cowboys and like groundhog day they’ll make their presence known only to disappoint. The Giants for their part, you’re never sure as to what to expect. Consistency has never been something that one could say with a certainty is something that has become a part of the team’s psyche. OK, so we’ll hear their fans say we’ve had injuries. My question is what about the roster of the Giants ? Isn’t that the reason behind having one in the first place?

As an avid fan of the NFL I want to see competitive games as well as competitive teams . Too often we’re being told that there’s parity in the NFL and that when it’s there it makes the NFL all the more appealing to the fans of the game. Isn’t that akin to saying that Rosie O’Donnell is appealing in a thong when you’re incapacitated from being blind drunk ? The league much like baseball has become about the haves and have not’s ! What I for one believe we’re now seeing in the NFL is a gradual dilution of talent and to an extent some poor coaching in the NFL ! Perhaps at no other time over the last decade have I seen the coaching in the NFL look so mundane. Granted we still have the likes of Bill Belichick and now Mike Shanahan. But in that respect , Shanahan hasn’t had a presence or any resonance in the NFL since his heyday with the Denver Broncos and those Superbowl winning years with John Elway at the helm of the team as its signal caller. Now the veteran coach has been entrusted to resuscitate the fortunes of the Redskins.

The Dallas Cowboys have been an entertaining joke for the past decade, with the thought of the team being perennial contenders for the Superbowl . Over the past decade the Cowboys have failed to win a playoff game. And what’s more pertinent was in their last playoff appearance they were so handily dismantled by the Minnesota Vikings. Any pretense as to the Cowboys being amongst the elite within the NFL is simply just that , pretense ! Tony Romo is no more a leader than Ricky Martin could be considered a viable candidate for the US Marine Corps . But yet these asinine pundits who continually come out with their assertion that the Dallas Cowboys are to be considered amongst the elite of the NFL.

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones who has never seen a free agent he’s never liked , now has a team that has about as much substance as a wet paper bag. Anyone who’s still of the belief that the Cowboys are worthwhile watching merely because of their new gargantuan $1.6 billion dollar edifice might as well stay at home in the confines of their abodes. Because as sure as the day is long,the Cowboys simply aren’t worthwhile seeing, well not when playing football anyway ! You’re liable to get a great deal more enjoyment seeing the Cowboys’ cheerleaders entertain the crowd during the pre-game and at halftime . ’Enough said! Wade Phillips while often thought of as a great defensive coordinator, his attributes as a head coach still leaves a lot to be desired.

The Philadelphia Eagles are still something of an enigma and seeing this team repeatedly come so close only to fall at the final obstacle has you wondering what else can happen to this organization. Andy Reid as the team’s long tenured coach has been the one constant along , with the since departed Donovan McNabb. Now with the veteran quarterback having been traded to a divisional rival . It remains to be seen whether or not McNabb’s successor Kevin Kolb is ready to assume the quarterback and leadership role on this team . Inasmuch, as McNabb could be considered a success and the face of the franchise, in many ways he was most certainly blamed for the team’s failures. But to solely blame McNabb would be idiotic, when one considers he was essentially surrounded by marginal talent for the greater part of his career with the Eagles. And in the team’s lone Superbowl (SBXXXIX) appearance against the New England Patriots. Let’s just say in spite of Terrell Owens’ heroics it has to be said that rest of the team was about resourceful as boiling water would be in a vat of molten lava.

The New York Giants under their coach Tom Coughlin and their quarterback Eli Manning have sought to show us that they belong amongst the elite of the NFL . While I’ve no doubt in my mind that they are one of the better teams in the NFL. I personally don’t consider them amongst the elite teams within the league. Granted the NFC East has to be considered one of the best if not the best division in all of the NFL. Impressive as they were in their unexpected triumph over the then undefeated New England Patriots and the momentum that they carried from that victory. I have to say that I expected more from this team from that great run ,the following season. As much I now how difficult it is to successfully defend a Superbowl title the thought was that this Giants’ team were as capable as any other team , who’d been perceived to be good enough to make a successful defense.

Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Jacobs needs to reassert powerful presence

By Doug Farrar , Yahoo Sports

Biggest problem in 2009: Jacobs’ power loss

The New York Giants had two problems that kept them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2004: a defense that suffered a severe downturn from the one that helped them win Super Bowl XLII, and a rushing attack that lost almost all of its power. It’s thought that the defensive issues will be solved with three additions: new coordinator Perry Fewell, first-round defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul(notes), and big-time free-agent safety Antrel Rolle(notes). The rushing attack is a more complicated matter.

The “Earth, Wind and Fire” trio of Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Derrick Ward was reduced to an inconsistent duo. With Ward in Tampa Bay, Bradshaw got more carries and took advantage with his best season to date. Still, that left him with 778 rushing yards and just two games with 100 or more yards on the ground. Even worse, Jacobs, the main man, experienced an alarming drop in power and production.

Jacobs signed a new four-year contract with the Giants in February of 2009 after an ’08 season in which he set then-career highs in carries (219), rushing yards (1.089), 100-yard games (four) and rushing touchdowns (15). It was the second straight season in which he had gained five yards per carry, and though he was bothered all season by a knee injury, that’s part of physical style – Jacobs has dealt with different nicks throughout his career. With a more featured role, Jacobs had high expectations put on him for 2009.

Safe to say, those expectations were not met. Jacobs, formerly one of the league’s best power backs, started hesitating at the line, and the effects were immediate. Jacobs gained just 835 yards on 224 carries, had no 100-yard games, and scored just five rushing touchdowns. More than one analyst questioned Jacobs’ ability to run between the tackles, but the man himself remained unconcerned. “I feel like I’m running the same way I was running [in 2008],” Jacobs told the New York Daily News in early October. “Getting a little bit smarter, being patient, let the scheme happen for me. You just can’t run in there and think that you can outrun your blocks.”

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Click on the link provided to read the article in its entirety.

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An offense built around a terrific running game from Ahmad Bradshaw , Brandon Jacobs and a stout defense led by Michael Strahan , bolstered by Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora . One year on from that triumph and it were as if the team forgot how to play and what got them to their triumph. And for the team’s quarterback Eli Manning, his game seemingly regressed to the point where the player himself seemed to have lost confidence in his abilities and to an extent in his teammates. At times it showed in his game and the fact that he was trying to force plays instead of playing to his and his team’s strengths. How much this had to with Manning or with Coughlin’s coaching, one can but merely speculate. The one thing that is clear however, is that if the Giants are to be taken seriously as a contender this upcoming season . Then they’ll have to raise the level of their play back to where it was when they marched their way to the Superbowl and upended the aspirations of the New England Patriots and shocked the NFL world. Is the task beyond the scope of the team ? Clearly the organization doesn’t believe it is. And neither does Coughlin and his coaching staff or for that matter GM Jerry Reese.

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Picture gallery. By clicking on an individual frame you can view the picture in its original format.

This past NFL Draft the organization has made sure to supplement the team’s needs with some prudent choices that are their prime areas of need. If things should pan out with the players in question then there’s strong possibility that we could see this team contending in the postseason. But that’ll be also predicated upon the play of Eli Manning , as we all know he’s nowhere near as competent as his elder sibling. So are you prepared to take a walk on the wild side and support the New York Giants this upcoming season ? Well I suspect the vast majority of Giants’ fans are ! While the minority of them will later jump unto the bandwagon if they’re actually showing signs of life.

NB : Click here to view the 2010 NFL Draft picks of the New York Giants.

Alan Parkins aka tophatal ……………………………….

Lou Reed ………………….”A Walk On The Wild Side”

If anyone has figured out exactly what it is that Reed is singing about then they’ll realize how close to the edge this song really was.