OFFENSE – Needs – OL, RB

The offensive line was been slowly dissolving into a weaker unit as a whole. Chris Snee and David Diehl are both getting up there in age, and the need for a rock solid starter for years to come should be a focal point at some point early in 2013. Luckily for the Gmen this year is a great year for lineman and they should have their pick of whoever may fall out of the top 15 this year, or even have the opportunity of taking a solid starter in rounds 2-4. The ability for that prospect to learn the nuances of the line from veterans like Snee and Diehl would also work in the Giants favor.

It’s believed up to 7 offensive linemen could go in the first round. I would not expect the top 4 lineman, Joeckel, Fisher, Cooper, and Warmack to be available at 19; however, guys like D.J. Fluker, and Melenick Watson would be an excellent addition for the Giants. Fluker earned preseason All-SEC recognition in 2012 and went on to earn many honors, including second-team All-America by AP and Walter Camp and first-team All-SEC from the coach and second-team from the media while starting each of the Crimson Tide’s games en route to the national title. Menelik Watson recorded a 27.5-inch vertical jump and 19 strength lifts. He played right tackle at Florida State but the feeling is he can play left tackle. If the Giants decide to go in another direction in round 1, look for Justin Pugh in round 2, or Barrett Jones in Round 3. Both players versatility is unparalleled to the entire lineman class outside of the top 4 lineman in the draft. Pugh may be the biggest reason Ryan Nassib is considered to be a good QB prospect since he kept him on his feet throughout his college career, while Jones was D.J. Flukers’ teammate and has won a national championship playing 3 separate positions on the offensive line (C, OG, and OT.)

Running back is a much smaller need since we’re really talking about a back-up here. David Wilson will be the #1 back going forward and Andre Brown can’t stay healthy, so were looking for a versatile back with some pass catching ability to be a fill in while Wilson and Brown get some rest. Brown will be a free agent after next season so there should be an interest in having some security at the position, but it won’t be until round 4 or lower. Guys I love like Michigan State Le’Veon Bell and North Carolina Giovanni Bernard will be long gone, so the Giants will be looking for a RB who can also be used as a punt returner, or a great blocker on special teams. Enter Florida RB Mike Gillislee. Gillislee went crazy in his senior season after finally getting the starting gig. He totaled 1,152 yards and 10 touchdowns in the SEC. That takes talent, and this kid has some serious upside. Considered a top prep-school prospect coming out of high school, Gillislee sat behind Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps before they both left for the NFL. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not going to be a starter, but he would be more than helpful. He should be chosen in rounds 4 or 5.

DEFENSE – Needs – LB, DB

Dan Connor, Mark Herzlich, Mathias Kiwanuka, Keith Rivers. Those are the best ILB’s on the Giants roster as of now. Kiwanuka is no slouch. He’s a heck of a player and a great LB, but he’s not a natural MLB. Rivers was just signed to a 1 yr. deal, but he’s not a MLB either. Herzlich is a fantastic story, and an inspiration in the locker room, that being said he’s not going to the pro-bowl this year, though I wish him the best on making it one day. The glaring need for a captain in the middle has been a problem for the last two years, and it should be a priority.

The problem is this isn’t a great class of ILB. As a matter of fact I only really like two of them and that’s LSU’s MLB Kevin Minter and Georgia LB Jarvis Jones. Just like Gillislee at Florida, Minter and Jones played in the SEC, which is a tutoring lesson for the NFL. So many great NFL players come from that conference. Minter was clearly the best defensive player on his team at LSU, but is he worth the #19th pick overall? Jones on the other hand would be a gift if he somehow falls to #19. Teams are very skeptical of Jones because of some pretty serious medical concerns. Jones was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis, a narrowing of the spine that can result in numbness, loss of muscle control, and in some cases paralysis. He has since been cleared by doctors, saying that it was a miss-diagnosis, but that really tainted his draft stock. He is a top 10 talent that will fall some but I’m not sure he makes it to 19. If he should, would the Giants consider him healthy enough for them to draft? That’s a question for Jerry Reece. I think it would be an easy pick myself. Jones isn’t even considered a true MLB, which goes against my own thought process. He’s just too good to pass up if he’s still there. Now if he isn’t I think the Giants should look at OL or a CB in the first round.

With that being said, let’s talk about the CB / S class for the 2013 NFL Draft. This class has some serious talent. Dee Milliner barring any major injury will be a shutdown corner in the NFL. The Giants would need to move way up in the draft to even think about Dee and that’s not Mr. Reece’s style. Instead the Giants should be looking at 3 guys in particular.

(1) Florida State CB, Xavier Rhodes – Rhodes, like Jarvis Jones would have to fall in the draft according to most mock drafts. According to what you read, he could go to the Dolphins at 12, the Bucs at 13 and the Saints at 15. The kid has a 40.5” vertical leap, an 11’ broad jump, and he ran a 4.39 40 at the combine. All 32 teams were present at his pro-day, and is considered by most to be the second best CB prospect in this class.

(2) Texas FS, Kenny Vaccaro – Vaccaro emerged as arguably the best safety in the Big 12 as a junior, posting 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, eight passes broken up and two interceptions. While the Longhorns’ talented defense struggled in 2012, Vaccaro registered a career-high 107 tackles and five turnovers (two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery). He has great instincts and hits hard, 2 qualities needed to be successful as a FS in the NFL. Giants’ fans should be thrilled if Vaccaro is taken at #19.

(3) Houston CB, D. J. Hayden – Hayden, also has similarities to Jarvis Jones. Hayden had what could have been a fatal injury last year. Hayden suffered a heart issue — a torn inferior vena cava — which was called the “most unique injury in the history of the draft” by a Packers executive, but he’s getting good news in his team physicals after checking out at the Combine. Hayden was elected to the 2012 ALL Conference USA team even though he only played 9 games after the heart related injury. He was a team Captain at Houston, and shows the willingness to fight through adversity. I would take him last of the three only due to the unbelievable injury he suffered in a practice! Still, he’s very talented and would be a good pick for the Giants.

For those of you who follow my draft and are wondering how I could have written this entire piece without mentioning Florida State DE Bjoern Werner after having him as the Giants pick for many weeks now, I say… I just did. (HA!) I would like to remind everyone reading this that the article is about players the Giants should be looking at to fill a need, not who they think is the best player available at the time. I know, semantics but hey! What can you do?

Follow me on Twitter @Jferguson631

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan, DE/Oregon – Dion is an anomaly. Most prospects unable to compete at either the combine or their pro day typically fall on draft boards. Instead, all this kid has done is run a 40 and he’s being considered as one of the best defensive players available this year. Jordan was unable to help his draft stock at the Oregon Pro day because he is recovering from a recent surgery to repair a torn labrum. He ran a 4.53 unofficial time at the combine, which is amazing. GM David Caldwell recently said, “We’re pretty close – It’s down to two people.” Most people believe the two he referenced are Oregon DE Dion Jordan and West Virginia QB Gen Smith.

3. Oakland Raiders – Geno Smith, QB/West Virginia – I jokingly put “the ghost of All Davis lives” when I first put Geno to the Raiders in late January. The truth is Davis would have been drooling at the opportunity to grab a mobile QB, especially if he had been alive to see RGIII the year before. Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie will be left with making a franchise changing decision, as QB’s taken in the top 5 can cost a GM their job if they don’t pan out. Just ask Mike Tannenbaum. The Raiders released Carson Palmer due to salary cap issues, and have only have Matt Flynn & Terrelle Pryor on staff at QB. This pick is easy.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Ezekiel Ansah DE/ BYU – Ansah reportedly didn’t hire a trainer for the combine instead focusing on finishing his classes at BYU. His draft stock was already high but this news makes him seem kind of freakish. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms, Ansah posted the sixth fastest forty times (4.63) of 37 defensive linemen who ran, and his 34 1/2-inch vertical tied for seventh. There is also a rumor that his 40 at the combine was the first one he ever ran in his lifetime. Ansah is a lightning in a bottle type of player and would be a welcome addition to any defense that drafts him. Billy Davis should be thrilled.

5. Detroit Lions – Dee Milliner CB/ Alabama – The Lions were active in free agency acquiring RB Reggie Bush, DE Jason Jones, and CB Chris Houston. Former Colts GM Bill Polian mentioned Detroit as the “greatest show on turf.” That ought to be billboard material for division rival Bears, Vikings and Packers. The ability to stop those teams, as well as the rest of their opponents next year will be a priority on draft day. In a past mock I mentioned that according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, teams wanting Alabama CB Dee Milliner will “probably have to trade ahead of Detroit at No. 5 to get him. Enough said.

6. Cleveland Browns – Sharrif Floyd, DT/ Florida – NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was quoted as saying, “everybody” has Floyd pegged as a top-five pick.” The reason for his fall to six has more to do with the rise of Dion Jordan and Ziggy Ansah up opposing teams’ draft boards. At 6’3 297 pounds, with a solid 40 time, Floyd racked up 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two kick blocks as a junior before declaring. Cleveland recently spent some big money on DE Paul Kruger and will be developing an intimidating pass rush after drafting Floyd to compliment him. Utah DE Star Lotulelei could also fit nicely here.

7. Arizona Cardinals – Eric Fisher OT/ Central Michigan – Carson Palmer was recently acquired and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Total Access that the Cardinals are unlikely to draft a quarterback at No. 7 overall. This may not be the popular thing to do from a fan perspective, but it makes a heck of a lot of sense. The QB class outside of Smith is not worthy of a selection this high and a good LT is a necessity in a rebuilding process. Bruce Arians and his imaginative play calling would love to feel confident their QB, whoever it is, will stay upright no matter what the play, and Fisher can do just that. Watch for Arizona to draft a QB in the 2nd round.

8. Buffalo Bills – Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/Tennessee – I am less confident in this pick every day. Last time I had mentioned “Patterson needs a coach that isn’t going to take any crap and can bring him in with more a drill instructor mind set than a player coach mentality”. Now there are reports from a WR coach that Patterson would be an offensive coach’s dream. This is pure crap. You don’t change from a head case to a saint in the time since the combine. GM Buddy Nix mentioned to the press that he wanted to draft a big time WR as well as a franchise QB. Good luck with that. Patterson is considered to be as immature as he is talented. There was a report from a scout that he questioned Patterson’s intelligence and thinks the team that drafts him will have to simplify their offense to make him successful. Still, he scored a touchdown via kickoff return, punt return, receiving, and rushing, joining Carl Pickens (receiving, KR, PR, INT) as the only players in Tennessee history to score a touchdown four different ways in a career. Some drafts have Buffalo grabbing Ryan Nassib here, but I can’t see it. His combine was average and he’s not coming from a football powerhouse in Syracuse. His talent is fantastic, but even with his former coach now in charge of the Bills; Nassib would be a major risk here. I do however think West Virginia WR Tavon Austin has a legitimate chance to be drafted here.

9. New York Jets – Star Lotulelei, DT/Utah – The Jets are a tough team to gauge simply because they have so many needs and on both sides of the field. Lotulelei has been all over draft boards due to his supposed heart issues which have since been declared a non-issue. Star won the Morris trophy which is the award given to the best defensive player, voted by the Pac-12 offensive lineman he played against. His prototypical size at 6’3 311lbs. will help Rex Ryan in his pursuit of a pass rush. He should be a great addition to a line that just lost Sione Pouha and is in desperate need of improvement.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack, OG/Alabama – I stand by this pick since the first mock in Late January. The Titans need to give Jake Locker a chance. Ha! Chance… In order to do that he needs to stay on his feet and taking the best guard at 10 would be a big time pick for the Titans. Warmack is a wild card to me, as the Jets, Cardinals, and Eagles could all use some help at the offensive line, so if he’s still available Tennessee will pounce. CBS Sports has Warmack as the second best prospect in this year’s draft behind only Luke Joeckel.

11. San Diego Chargers – Lane Johnson, OT/ Oklahoma – The new regime of GM Tom Telesco, HC Mike McCoy, and OC Ken Whisenhunt have a lot of work to do to keep the Chargers relevant. Johnson did 28 reps of 225lbs at the combine and with his strength will help Philip Rivers try to redeem himself after getting sacked on 50 of his 587 drop backs. The Bolts’ most glaring need is at left tackle, where Jared Gaither up and quit last season, and Johnson will also help fill the void on the right side where Louis Vasquez played before he departed to Denver.

12. Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Cooper, OG/North Carolina – Miami lost Jake Long to St. Louis and now are left with Jonathan Martin at left tackle and they brought in Nate Garner to be a swing tackle/guard. That being said, neither of those guys is going to a pro bowl any time soon. Cooper will help Miami recover from their loss of a former 1st round lineman. Greg Cossel from NFL films praised Cooper saying “the most purely athletic guard I can remember seeing” coming out of college. Cooper plays with “light feet, great balance,” and also showed a “nasty streak,” consistently “looking for contact.” Cooper is considered by some to be the best guard prospect in the class.

13. New York Jets (Via Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Tavon Austin, WR/West Virginia – For this to happen, Derrelle Revis must first become a Buccaneer. Consider it done! This trade is going to happen and it will happen before the draft, simply because no team would be willing to give up a first round pick for a player that they haven’t medically deemed healthy. Austin is a heck of a talent and will do wonders in the west coast offense the Jets are planning on using. Jets fans should also be looking towards receiving a 3rd round and maybe a late round pick or a pick in 2014 in the Revis trade.

14. Carolina Panthers – Sheldon Richardson, DT/Missouri – The Panthers statistically had a top 15 defense in 2012 finishing 10th in the league for yards per game allowed. Richardson, who stands 6’2”, 294lbs., became Mizzou’s first-ever All-SEC designee, as he was named to the 2nd-team for his outstanding play. His presence should help solidify Carolina’s front seven.

15. New Orleans Saints – Menelik Watson, OT/ Florida State – This kid is very intriguing. He has only played 2 years of football after coming over from Manchester England, but is considered by NFL.com’s Gil Brandt as a “very good offensive lineman.” Pursued by the likes of Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Cal and Rutgers, Watson elected to sign with Florida State where he emerged as a starter in just his second season of playing the sport. Drew Brees and Mark Ingram will enjoy Watson’s services as he is helpful in both the run and the pass.

16. St. Louis Rams – D.J. Fluker, OT/Alabama – Some scouts doubt if Fluker can play tackle in the pro level. St. Louis is in dire need of offensive line help, so the concerns will be listened to, but ignored. D.J. Fluker who measures in at 6’6” 339 would be the 7th offensive linemen taken in this mock and the second of the first round coming from a SEC powerhouse in Alabama that produces NFL players every single year.

The Giants will start their voluntary offseason workout program on Apr. 15.

OTA workouts: May 22-23, May 29-31 and June 3-7

Giants mandatory minicamp: June 11-13

The talk of course is all about who shows and who doesn’t, but barring injury rehabbing players most guys will be in attendance.  The one name that will cause the most buzz of course is Victor Cruz.  Cruz did show up at the Manning workouts last week and it would seem silly for Victor to choose not to show up again this week in New Jersey.  The one thing for me that points to Victor Cruz definitely planning on attending this week is the following story:

According to Ed Werder of ESPN, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz isn’t expected to report to next week’s voluntary workouts. Cruz still hasn’t signed his restricted free agent tender as he continues to wait for a lucrative long-term contract from the Giants.

While it’s true he hasn’t yet signed his tender, he is in no way “Waiting” for a lucrative deal….they have offered one, and the two sides are continuing to negotiate in good faith.  To use the fact that it’s not signed yet as the reason why he won’t show up Monday shows a complete misunderstanding of the process.  Couldn’t he be waiting to sign it while at the facility on Monday? Wouldn’t it show his commitment to the team to participate fully in the workouts?  It’s the new NFL after all where the players won’t even pretend to touch each other…there is no more risk of injury than there is in walking down the street.

So…Back to work Monday…The schedule is revealed Tuesday, and the draft begins the following Thursday in New York.

Victor is playing the game along with his agent(s) and the Giants in typical fashion are not panicking or talking publicly.  The fact that Victor went to Duke University to work out with Eli is all you need to know at this point.  He is planning on being a Giant.

The risks of injury, the risk of landing somewhere with no media attention (see Jeremy Lin). the risk of not having a top 5 QB is simply not worth a few more million a year that Victor will and has already seen in endorsements in New York.  The wealth and connections you gain by playing in New York and WINNING is worth more than any amount of money up front.  Look at Michael Strahan, Coach Coughlin, and even Brad Benson.  They are household names, they are revered in this town, and part of New York History.

Victor Cruz will benefit from staying in New York on every level as opposed to moving to Detroit, Houston, San Diego, or any other locale.  Relax Giants fans,Victor is a smart kid and will make the choice to stay for the benefit of all and make the Giants receiving corps the best in the business.

The NFL Schedule comes out on the 16th of April stay tuned to GMenHQ for instant analysis as soon as it is available.  Will it be another 6-2 start?

However with the way the pre season runs these days in the NFL the only QB they will probably actually play any protracted amount of time against will be Luck and whomever The Jets trot out.  With Pittsburgh being the first game, and New England being the last we can guarantee Tom Brady might not even be in the building, let alone throw any passes.  The exciting match-up comes on a primetime affair televised on FOX between Eli Manning and Andrew Luck.  Luck is an emerging star with all the tools and in week two of the pre season he will probably play the entire first half.

Three AFC teams that the Giants don’t face again in the regular season in 2013, should make for a good opportunity to test a few things out and to get after a few QB’s with some talent….and The Jets

Barkevious Mingo, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, LSU
Bjoern Werner, Defensive End, Florida State
Chance Warmack, Guard, Alabama
Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide Receiver, Tennessee
Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama
DJ Fluker, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
EJ Manuel, Quarterback, Florida State
Eric Fisher, Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan
Ezekial Ansah, Defensive End, BYU
Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia
Jonathan Cooper, Guard, North Carolina
Kenny Vaccaro, Safety, Texas
Lane Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma
Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M
Margus Hunt, Defensive End, SMU
Menelik Watson, Offensive Tackle, Florida State
Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle, Florida
Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, West Virginia
Xavier Rhodes, Cornerback, Florida State

The NFL never take’s a back seat to anyone anymore and April is no exception.  The full NFL schedule will be released on April 16th. The draft will be held in New York City beginning on April 25th, and of course Free Agency is in full swing and will continue till training camps open in August.  The season is right around the corner for football fans, and hope springs eternal tomorrow for baseball fans.

Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice and Adrian Peterson Dominate Second Round,
Third Round Voting Now Open at ESPN.com/MaddenVote

March 27, 2013 – Today ESPN SportsNation revealed second-round results and third-round matchups for the Madden NFL 25 Cover Vote. Voting totals are nearing the 30 million mark as fans come out in droves to support their favorite Old School and New School players, and a handful of dominant performers have emerged. Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice and Adrian Peterson continue to roll through the competition, with each again carrying over 90 percent of the vote in their respective matchups.

Other key matchups saw Ray Lewis defeat LaDainian Tomlinson, Russell Wilson blow by Von Miller and Rob Gronkowski successfully escaping Revis Island. Also, in a nail-biting finish, Michael Strahan managed to squeak by Kurt Warner. Round two saw over 7.8 million votes, and total votes for the campaign have now reached 29.1 million overall, almost ten million more than last year’s vote total for the entire campaign.

These most recent results set the stage for some incredible contests in Round 3, with Joe Montana taking on Dan Marino in a battle pitting Super Bowl rings against all-time records, while former Cowboys teammates Troy Aikman and Deion Sanders will attempt to put the offense vs. defense debate to rest. In the New School bracket, rookie sensations Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson will face-off, with the winner taking on either Colin Kaepernick or Arian Foster in the semi-finals.

Voting for the next round is now open and will continue through Wednesday, April 3. Fans are invited to cast their votes at ESPN.com/MaddenVote through their PC or mobile devices.  For the chance to “Maximize” votes, ESPN and Madden NFL 25 have collaborated with Pepsi MAX to promote Twitter live voting every Tuesday throughout the Madden Cover Vote campaign, where tweets with each player’s respective Cover Vote hashtag will count as two votes.  Double votes ends at midnight ET each Tuesday.

Embraced by fans and honored by critics for 25 years, Madden NFL is known as the NFL’s “33rd Franchise” due to its authentic gameplay, the development team’s unparalleled access to NFL resources and its prominent place in NFL culture.

Madden NFL 25 is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon and will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system for $59.99 and can be preordered at GameStop. To learn more about Madden NFL 25, visit http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl. Fans are also invited to become a Madden Insider for exclusive information on Facebook including the latest news, original content and more for Madden NFL 25.

All player participation has been facilitated by National Football League Players Incorporated, the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, SSX™ and Fight Night boxing.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

But, the Giants fooled us all and came up with a concept not even considered by most, and with the blessing of NIKE they have decided to ….wear white pants with their blue jerseys on selected occassions.  SO the switch from grey (silver) to white, but only on occassion and never with the white jerseys.

Wow….news like this is why The Jets get all the headlines!  We all know championships are more important than uniforms and non news that is overblown.  This tid bit really describes the Giants to a tee.

The Giants have extended an offer that exceeds $7 million per year while adding a “sizable amount” of guaranteed money, Gary Myers of the New York Daily News reported Saturday.

The offer would seem to be in the three- or four-year range, as Myers adds that it would still leave the 26-year-old Cruz another chance to land a big contract later in his career.

I understand Victor and his agents look at things from a current to future perspective.  What they believe they are worth now and going forward, but they really should sit back a moment and realize where they came from.  Victor was an un-drafted free agent who got an invitation to camp purely to give the Giants enough bodies to hold practices.  He had a decent camp, and then got injured.  He then had another decent camp….one great game vs. The Jets, who have become his personal highlight reel, and then a not so great beginning to his career.  Taking the jump from zero to 300,000 to 3 million would be pretty good in the short time he has been in the league.  Being offered 7 million, with guaranteed money, to play with Eli, in the only system he knows, with Hakeem Nicks and Rueben Randle to occupy defensive backs, and a chance to hit the jackpot one more time, is a windfall.

We all love Victor, but at this point the writing is on the wall….no one else can afford to pay him, and taking a chance that he can outlast the Giants while risking injury would be foolish.  Take the deal and stay beloved Victor…the time has come

What strikes me as odd in the discussion about the running backs using the crown of their helmet to attack a defender is that the NFL Network, and ESPN continue to show clips of games where the penalty wouldn’t be called.  It’s only out in the open, not between the tackles or in close quarters.  It’s an outside one on one issue.  Also coaches have said it might be tough to teach…..and again we have to look to our friends in the NCAA for this one.  The rule already exists in High School.  We discuss it every year as a point of emphasis, and I have yet to see it be called.  If the NCAA would get on board with safety issues, instead of figuring out how to squeeze every penny out of every college athlete, then the players would come into the NFL playing the game the proper way.  Tough, hard nosed, and safe!

Overall, Edward’s tenure as head coach of the Jets was marred by chronic clock management problems, an ultra-conservative “play not to lose” mentality, and a lack of any discernable defensive philosophy, despite Edwards’ supposed expertise in the Cover 2 defense.

My point here is that Herm was probably not the best talent evaluator as a Head Coach leading to his poor record and general lack of success…but put a coat and a tie on a guy and he’s an expert.  The conversation this morning was the usual off season nonsense until it turned to QB’s in the NFL.  Herm made the proclamation…and one that I agree with…that there can’t be 8 ELITE QB’s in the league…there can only be 4.  Good point because you are supposed to be comparing them to each other, not some imaginary set of numbers.  He prefaced his list with the “In the last FIVE or so years” these are my Elite QB’s….This is where Herm gets lost.

1. Aaron Rodgers: No Argument..

• 3× Pro Bowl (2009, 2011, 2012)
• First-team All-Pro (2011)^[1]
• Second-team All-Pro (2012)
• AP NFL MVP (2011)
• Super Bowl champion (XLV)
• Super Bowl MVP (XLV)
• NFC champion (2010)
• Single season QB Passer Rating record (122.5)

Hard to argue this point when Rodgers has only been starting for the past 5 years.

2. Tom Brady:  O.K. I’ll give him this one, but No Super Bowl Wins in two appearances hurts a little.

• 5× Pro Bowl ( 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• 2× First-team All-Pro (2007, 2010)
• 2× AFC Champion (2007, 2011)
• 5x AFC East Champion ( 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• 2× AP NFL MVP (2007, 2010)
• 2× AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2010)
• 3× AFC Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2010, 2011)
• NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2009)

Drew Brees: To me the most overrated of the group:

• 5× Pro Bowl ( 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
• 3× All-Pro ( 2008, 2009, 2011)
• Super Bowl champion (XLIV)
• Super Bowl MVP (XLIV)
• 2× AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2011)
• 2× NFC MVP (2008, 2009)

Peyton Manning: Who missed one of the 5 years entirely

• 5× Pro Bowl ( 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012)
• 3× First-team All-Pro ( 2008, 2009, 2012)
• 2× AP NFL MVP (2008, 2009)
• AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2012)
• 2× AFC Player of the Year ( 2008, 2009)
• 1× AFC champion (2009)

When asked about ELI, he said “He can sit at the kids table, but he can’t order from the menu”.  Really Herm?

• 3× Pro Bowl (2008, 2011, 2012)
• 2× Super Bowl champion (XLII, XLVI)
• 2× Super Bowl MVP (XLII, XLVI)
• NFL Record most 4th quarter touchdown passes in a season (15)
• Tied NFL Record most game-winning drives in a season (8) (2011)
• Most road wins in a single regular season and postseason by a starting quarterback (10)

Eli also beat your number one guy on the list TWICE in his building to get to the Super Bowl, and then beat the number two guy on your list TWICE in the Super Bowl.

Obviously Winning is not a priority with Herm as he evaluates QB’s.  Super Bowl Champion QB’s  the last 6 years include two of the guys on his list, and the guy who won TWO of the others can’t make the grade.

More proof that putting a coat and tie on a guy doesn’t make him an expert.

“It’s definitely all about him. Once a guy goes to the center of the field, goes into the victory formation on the last play of his last home game … I just don’t think the Giants or any organization I’ve ever been a part of, even growing up, would allow somebody to single themselves out like that.

“If you single yourself out after you make a play, that’s one thing. But to walk out on the field reminds me of the WWE, like The Rock coming out. You’re becoming a caricature of yourself. It’s exhausting. I don’t know why somebody would want that.”

He then went onto give his opinion on Lewis’ alleged PED usage that has been a hot topic since media day:

“If you want to say you’re Mr. Religious and all of that, have a clean record. Don’t say all of that stuff if you know there’s stuff that might come back. Those are the things that, when I look at him, I just think hypocrisy.”

Lewis has been a big headline this postseason and Toomer clearly has some strong feelings towards him. It is likely Toomer is bitter toward Lewis because Lewis’ Ravens gave Toomer and the Giants a brutal beat down in the 2001 Super Bowl. Nevertheless, he gave some good points on linebackers most recent drama.

Last night in the Giants game there was a very awkward moment for the officiating crew.  If you have ever had the honor of being on the field to officiate the game, you knew exactly how it all happened.  The Referee has one sole responsibility on a punt play, and that is the safety of the kicker.  He does not see anything else but what happens to the kicker and so he must rely on his crew to explain what they saw, and then must interpret this according to the rules and make his decision.  This is where the disconnect and the slow down of the pace has resulted.  On the play from last night a side judge throws a flag BEFORE THE KICK, which means it is a pre-snap, live ball foul, before possession has changed.  After the END OF THE KICK, when possession has changed, there was another flag thrown some 40 yards downfield.  The officials need to huddle to explain the two fouls to the Referee, and then he must give the coaches their choices, if any exist.  This, unfortunately, sometimes turns into a game of telephone where too many people are speaking at once, and the Referee can’t correct anyone because he saw none of it.  The choices were to take the PRE-KICK penalty for illegal motion, a 5 yard penalty and have the Giants re-kick, or take the POST POSSESSION penalty and have the 15 yards added to the end of the run.  The announcement was atrocious, but ultimately the call was correct.  The announcers wondered how a personal foul turned into a 5 yard penalty…again the announcement was the mistake, not the application of the rule.

The second moment came at the very end of the game when the Giants player intercepted a ball at the one and downed himself in the end zone.  Coach Coughlin wondered aloud last night that he didn’t see the player go out of bounds at the one, and he had no answers as to how the ball could be placed where it was.  The answer is something called the momentum rule.  When a player completes the act of gaining possession in the field of play and his original momentum takes him into the end zone, the ball is spotted at the spot he first gained possession.  This rule is used anywhere from the 5 yard line to the goal line.

Believe me I am not picking on Bob Papa or Carl Banks.  Dan Dierdorf made a big splash a few weeks back about how the officials screwed up running an un-timed down at the end of the first quarter, and how in his 40 years around football he had never heard or seen such a thing.  Never seeing something in person does not mean it isn’t covered in the rules.  I have actually seen this before in a Giants-Panthers game a few years back.  The point of the rule is that if you accept a penalty, and not the result of the play, then the play never happened and it must be replayed under the same circumstances.  The one in the Giants-Panthers game allowed for Carolina to punt WITH the wind instead of being forced to switch sides and kick into the wind.  In that game John Fox knew the rule, explained it the regular officials at the time, and got his way.

I think the announcers are so poised to pick on the replacements that they are very quick to point out anything they think is wrong, even while they butcher players numbers, names, positions, and explanations of rules.

I believe the replacements need to go for the simple reason they are not the most qualified people available, and this is not a reality show seeing how quickly you can turn the average official into an NFL official.

The “Battle for New York”, as the NFL Network is touting it, or the quest for bragging rights as the announcer says in the voice over.  Wow, could you imagine the amount of bragging that could happen this week if the Jets, and Tim Tebow, actually beat the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants in a pre-season game where the starters will only play about 25 plays?  They will own New York, this magical team that manages to win this test of wills, this statement game so early in the pre-season.  I’m sure the Giants view it a little differently.

The Giants who will be out tonight are: WR Hakeem Nicks, CB Terrell Thomas, CB Brandon Bing,CB Michael Coe, LB Jacquain Williams, LB Michael Boley, LT Will Beatty, DT Shaun Rogers, DT Marcus Thomas and DT Marvin Austin.  Once again there are no surprises found on this list, but there is some disappointment in not having the ability to see Marvin Austin and Will Beatty participate in a game.  It is getting dangerously close to the opener and these players need to show they will be ready to go. Nicks and Thomas are forbidden to participate due to new rules found in the CBA, since they haven’t been ruled active for at least three days.

But, fear not The Jets, and Tm Tebow, vow to show up and play like Wildcats!

 the NFL and NFL Referees Association are not making any progress towards a new deal, according to sources familiar with the talks.

The ESPN article went on to say the following; which in all honesty I do not understand…

One source familiar with the stalled negotiations estimated that the two sides would not resolve their differences until the third week of the regular season. His feelings on the state of the talks provide a snapshot of how far apart the two sides are.

Why is it week three and not week four? Either way this would be a very interesting start to the season for everyone. I must say that this shocks me. At a time when in the leagues history when they are focusing now more than ever on player safety and concussions, I just do not understand how we start with rookie officials. The replacement referees have three more weeks of preseason to figure this all out…good luck…

According to Davie (Fla.) Police Department captain Dale Engle, Miami Dolphins WR Chad Johnson was arrested on the night of Saturday, August 11, 2012 for misdemeanor domestic battery. Johnson is in police custody and will not be released until he sees a judge.

Johnson’s wife and reality TV star Evelyn Lozada, claims Johnson headbutted her.  Johnson claims they bumped heads when she leaned forward.

Lozada was treated on the scene for a laceration on her forehead and was transported to a hospital.

The couple was married on July 4, 2012.

The Miami Dolphins have not commented or released a statement.

It all started with Terrell Owens saying he wasn’t reporting to Eagles camp all those years ago, and Joe Banner, President of the Eagles saying he would start fining Owens if he didn’t show up by 6:00p.m.  Up went the clock on the bottom of the screen of every ESPN show.  The cameras went to Eagle Camp to focus on the front door….riveting….and then a group went to T.O.’s house.  All the time ESPN executives, and I’m sure Owens and his agent, were laughing at what they had created. This week or month it is the Jets and Tim Tebows time.  This quote from an ESPN story this morning:

“Manning and the defending champion Giants have the rings. But Tebow, Mark Sanchez and the Jets clearly have the advantage with summer headlines and media coverage.”   Yes, media coverage created and perpetuated by you!

To me the slap in the face to the sports fan though is when their hosts or game announcers say things like “Maybe we can talk about something other than Tim Tebow tonight” or “How long do you think we can go without mentioning Tim Tebow tonight”  As if their bodies and minds were not under their control.

I always heard from people in journalism that you weren’t supposed to inject yourself into a story…I guess making up the story is considered different or more likely ESPN is not staffed with serious journalists.

“Y’all should come to that (Cowboys) stadium and watch us beat the Giants’ ass,” Jones told fans during a ceremony to signal the opening of Cowboys’ training camp Monday, a festival-like event that featured a few skydivers and a performance from the franchise’s famous cheerleaders.

Now, it is possible that  Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is just looking to start some smack-talking in order to sell seats at Cowboys Stadium. However, whether he believes this statement or not it is a ridiculous statement.

Including a playoff game on January 13, 2008, with Eli Manning at the starting QB position, the Giants are 4 and 1 in Cowboys Stadium. In those five games the Giants’ offense averaged 278 passing yards per game with three games over 300 passing yards including one game with 400 passing yards. In the last three years the Giants have averaged 345.33 passing yards per game in Cowboys Stadium.

Giants @ Cowboys when Eli Manning is starting QB

In addition to a great record in Cowboys Stadium, the Giants are 3 and 1 at home against the Cowboys from 2008 to 2011. The Cowboys have made no impressive acquisitions in the off season to make anyone think they will be better this year. The only news out of Dallas these days is starting WR Dez Bryant’s arrest for assaulting his mother and starting RB Felix Jones’ inability to pass the team’s mandatory physical fitness test.

Will the Giants beat the Cowboys in the season opener September 5, 2012? My money is on the Giants. It is, of course, possible that the Giants will lose. If they lose, it won’t be an ass-kicking from Cowboys, it will be a close and hard-fought game in which the Cowboys manage to eek out a win. As I stated before, my money is on the Giants.