I wanted to reach out with some exciting news ahead of tonight’s MNF showdown between Eli Manning’s division-leading Giants and RG3’s surging Redskins, and –  Robert Griffin III has jumped to the top spot in jersey sales across more than 500 DICK’S Sporting Goods stores in the country, based on numbers gathered from the DICK’S Sporting Goods Jersey Report. Not one to take a backseat to any QB, Eli also made a jump this weekend, passing his brother Peyton to stake claim to the #3 spot, trailing only RG3 and Andrew Luck.

Surprising? Unquestionably. Impossible to predict? Not quite. “The Jersey Report”, which is a first-of-its-kind experience – a dynamic ranking system that tracks sales of pro football jerseys across more than 500 DICK’S Sporting Goods locations nationwide, numbers have borne out consistently all season that jersey sales spike in the days leading up to game day, as fans clamor to get the gear of their favorite players for the big event. Updated daily throughout the football season, the Report is the only destination that provides fans with a comprehensive breakdown of how the sales of their favorite players’ jerseys are rising, falling and stacking up against the competition.

With their playoff hopes on the line for Washington, and an opportunity to put a nail in their coffin for New York, tonight’s game might just decide the fate of these two NFC East foes. Not even stellar performances by Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning on Sunday could stem the momentum of these two big-time quarterbacks as they prepare to face off tonight. So who will win? It’s hard to say, but one thing is for sure – fans of both teams will be donning their QB’s jerseys as they get settled in for a pivotal game on one of the biggest stages in sports.

Last week we focused on the AFC Central

Indianapolis Colts: My Pre-Draft ranking of the Colts in Upward. Give the colts this much credit, they are doing what they need to do to get younger, faster, and better. They have cut ways with Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Peyton Manning to name a few. There are also rumors that the Colts are shopping Dwight Freeney too. As we all know the Colts have the number one overall pick and all assumptions are they that the Colts are going to draft Andrew Luck. The Colts are doing the best they can to free up cap space to put talent around Luck. It looks as if Luck will be the starter from day one too. After the horrific season the Colts had last year they can only go up. It may be a slow climb but they are one again on the right track.

Houston Texans: My Pre-Draft ranking of the Texans in NEUTRAL. The Texans took a huge step forward last year by making

October 09, 2011; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Mario Williams (90) prepares for a game against the Oakland Raiders at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE

the playoffs and doing so without their starting QB. However, Mario Williams is a free agent and the two sides appear to be very far apart. This would love the Texans defense with a huge hole. Without Williams or an impact player like Williams the Texans will struggle to repeat the same success they had from last season. The Texans have the 26th overall pick in the draft. If they loose Williams look for the them to target defense (again). Questions are still floating around questioning if they have a QB/Coach combo that they can win the Super Bowl with? The bigger question, as I see it, is do they have a defense that can keep the other team off the board? With more question marks than answers, neutral is the best pre-draft rating I could give the Texans.

Jacksonville Jaguars: My Pre-Draft ranking of the Jaguars is Downward. What is there to say about the Jaguars? They reside in a market that does not care about football, they think they have a franchise QB, and free agents never want to go to Jacksonville. The Jaguars have the seventh overall pick in the draft and most mock drafts have the Jaguars looking for a OL (although some say a WR). If the Jaguars cannot protect their QB, they will not be able to win any games. However, the Jaguars have a bigger problem off the field. No body cares about football and unless the Jaguars can get some talent into the city to make the people want to go to football games that stadium will always be half empty. Maybe they should trade for Tebow? I would not be shocked to see the Jaguars to be the next NFL franchise to move, lets say to Toronto? Just throwing it out there….

Dec 11, 2011; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker (10) passes against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at LP Field. The Saints beat the Titans 22-17. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE

Tennessee Titans:  My pre-draft ranking of the Titans is NEUTRAL. Does anyone know what the Titans are? Do they have QB (doesn’t that sound like a theme for the entire AFC South)? They have a good solid young coach but beyond that they have many questions. They should get some answers by drafting some secondary help and then looking to put some talent around Locker. The biggest advantage the Titans have is that they are playing in probably the weakest division within the AFC. Yes, I think the AFC South is worse than the AFC West. If the Titans can spend the cap room wisely during free agency they could push the Texans for division champions

My Pre-Draft prediction for Final AFC South Standings: 1)Texans 2) Titans 3) Colts 4) Jaguars (8-8 might win this division next year)

]]> http://gmenhq.com/2012/03/14/focus-on-afc-south/feed/ 0 http://gmenhq.com/2012/01/06/game-day-essentials-afc-wild-card-colts-at-ravens/ http://gmenhq.com/2012/01/06/game-day-essentials-afc-wild-card-colts-at-ravens/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:27 +0000 Tom Brant http://gmenhq.com/?p=12748 Game Time: 1:03pm EST Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland TV: CBS Sports (CBS 2 NY,NJ, CT) and WFSB-3 (CT, MA) Announcers:  Jim Nance, Phil Simms, and Leslie Visser Game Time Weather: Opening Kick Off: 44* winds 5-10 mph NNE Half-Time: 43* winds 5-10 mph NNE Two Minute Warning: 41*winds5-10 mph NNE Current Line: Ravens -6.5 with [...]

Game Day Essentials: AFC Wild Card, Colts at Ravens - GMEN HQ - GMEN HQ - A NY Giants Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

Game Time: 1:03pm EST

Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: CBS Sports (CBS 2 NY,NJ, CT) and WFSB-3 (CT, MA)

Announcers:  Jim Nance, Phil Simms, and Leslie Visser

Game Time Weather:

Opening Kick Off: 44* winds 5-10 mph NNE

Half-Time: 43* winds 5-10 mph NNE

Two Minute Warning: 41*winds5-10 mph NNE

Current Line: Ravens -6.5 with the over/under at 46.5

All-Time Series: Colts lead 9-3

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Jack Del RIo has been fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Jaguars who currently rank 4th in defense, but last in points scored sit at 3-8 and have struggled since day one.  It has been surmised that defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will be the interim coach. Hired by the Jaguars in 2003, Del Rio finishes his career in Jacksonville with a 69-73 overall record, including a 1-2 mark in the postseason. His team hasn’t made the playoffs since 2007, when Jacksonville finished 11-5 and qualified as a wild card.

In a strange move that might be a sign of things to come, the Indianapolis Colts fired Defensive Coordinator Larry Coyer.  Not sure how replacing the defensive coordinator after an 0-11 start sends any kind of message, but like I said this might be a sign of things to come.

The Jim Tressel/Terrelle Pryor/Ohio State saga.

We all know the sweater-vest wearing Tressel as the man who headed up The Ohio State university football program and led them to one NCAA college football national championship. In addition to that one national championship his other many accolades at Ohio State includes an undefeated season, a 106-22 win-loss record, six Big Ten Conference trophies, 5 bowl victories, 4 BCS bowl wins, and three national championship appearances.

There’s no doubt that the man can coach. He can. And there’s a reason why he got himself a gig in the NFL even though he had to resign as head coach of the Buckeyes due to the Ohio State football program being investigated for rules violations.

Everybody makes mistakes and everybody is allowed a second, third, fourth, etc., chance in life. It’s the way the world works. If the Indianapolis Colts feel like hiring Tressel to be a game day consultant for them then that’s their prerogative.

All I think is that if Roger Goodell can suspend former Ohio State starting quarterback and current Oakland Raiders supplemental draft pick Terrelle Pryor for something that had nothing to do with the NFL then the man in charge of the program while Pryor was there should be getting the same treatment.

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The glory of the Lombardi Trophy is a mere two wins away. Men put their life and limb on the line just for an opportunity to hold it in their hand. The road is long for some, longer still for others. Four teams will have to endure 60 minutes of regulated football time and the elements of a cold, hard winter. The Super Bowl is upon us and the ESPN panel of fortune tellers verdicts are in.

I should note that last week, after my prediction article was published, Ron Jaworski and Chris Mortensen changed two of their picks. Both had originally picked the Jets to win over the New England Patriots. I am sure the trash talk of the New York Jets had something to do with it. Changing their picks was a mistake on their part nonetheless. Only one expert went 4-0 last week and you are reading his article right now. Thank you very much. Who am I picking this weekend and why? Read on for my breakdown and analysis!
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The regular season may be over, who knows better than us New York Giants fans, but football is still in FULL swing! This weekend marks the first round of the NFL playoffs and it’s going to get wild! Yes, folks, it’s time for all of those scrappers who were holding on for dear life to prove if they have the sand to move on to the next round. It’s Wildcard Weekend in the NFL! As the title indicates, the gurus over at ESPN have chosen the Green Bay Packers to win by a majority decision.

This week I am throwing my two cents into the playoff race along with the rest of the ESPN team. Last week was another week full of upset victories and shocking defeats. There were 9 unanimous ESPN picks. I went against the tide on a number of them. How did I fare against this panel of prophetic pundits? Who am I going with for this Wildcard Weekend? There’s only one way to find out. Click on the link below to check it out.
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Source: Jennifer Brown/The Star-Ledger

In the world of professional sports where players, more often than not, take the “Imma get mine” attitude, a rare story of brotherhood and sportsmanship has been developing. This inspirational subplot to the 2010 NFL season, which has been riddled with dirty play, hefty fines and soap opera scenarios, could only belong to a football team whose heart is True Blue.

The New York Giants pride themselves on being team players. Deon Grant said in the 11/28/10 post game interview,

“we’re a true family.”

There is no greater example of that than the relationship between Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Jacobs lost the starting running back position earlier in the year only to find himself with the job once more after Bradshaw had fumbling issues. While the starting job may go back and forth between them, their bond as teammates, friends and “brothers” continues to evolve.
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