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!

“Vito”

The Giants then signed DB Laron Scott, and DT Bobby Skinner.  Scott is a CB/ return specialist out of Georgia Southern, while Bobby Skinner listed at 6’3″ and 300 lbs is a rookie from local Montclair State.

I believe the injury to Trattou will hurt the most in the long run.  Justin had taken on the Dave Tollefson role along the defensive line and now that rotating depth position is open again.  The Giants need to either get healthy quickly or have one of the young kids step up. If either Rocky Bernard or Chris Canty returns healthy soon, then the concern is not so great.  This has now become the most interesting spot to watch come Saturday night when the Giants face the Jets and their running attack.

Q. With so many injuries to your WR corps, is there talk of signing anyone else, and who will be active Saturday night?

A. Amazingly enough, there has been no real talk about signing anybody.  Frankly, it’s shocking.  There is a rumor
that keeps popping up about the Jets trading for Percy Harvin, but I don’t think the Jets will be able to pull it off.   Actives for Saturday should be Stephen Hill, Patrick Turner,
Jeremy Kerley, Eron Riley, and Jordan White.

Q. Will the Jets run The Wildcat exclusively in the second half with Tebow to get some practice, or are they thinking of keeping it under wraps?

A. The Jets have been so secretive about the Wildcat, it’s amazing. They didn’t even begin to work on it until a closed practice.  They haven’t said much about the plan for Saturday, but my hunch is we will see very little of it, if any at all.

Q.What do you think is the biggest area of improvement needed for theJets?

A. Offensive line.  Nothing about the Jets, and their plans for 2012 will go forward if the line doesn’t get better.  Everything falls apart when the line falls apart, it has to improve, starting Saturday night.

Q. What position battles are you most excited to see?

One oddball position is kicker, which has been almost a dead heat between Josh Brown and Nick Folk. Another one I think all Jets
fans are watching is the battle at right tackle.  The other big question is who is going to step up as the number two running back behind Shonn Greene.

Q. Any no names we might be surprised with Saturday night?

With Sione Pouha out especially, watch for a defensive lineman named Damon Harrison.  He is an undrafted free agent nose tackle
from William and Penn University, and he is huge.  He only played a portion of the fourth quarter last week, but nobody could block him.  This should be a big week for him.  Another guy to watch for is a cornerback named Ellis Lankster, who has had a big camp.

My answers to his interrogation appear here: My Answers

In Super Bowl XLII, Burress caught a game-winning touchdown to help the Giants beat the Patriots.

Plaxico Burress found himself in trouble win when he shot himself in the leg while at a nightclub on Novemver 29, 2008. He was sentenced to two years in prison for violating gun laws in New York  in September 2009 . Burress pleaded guilty to a lesser firarms charge.

After being released three months early for good behavior, he signed with the Jets for the 2011 season.  He scored eight touchdowns, 612 yards and 45 receptions. He tied the team high for TDs and receptions.

Recently there were rumors circulating that Burress would be signing with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys organization denies any internal conversations about bringing Burress to Dallas.

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.

The show will be called “The Blue and Green Review” and will center on the New York Football Scene.  My co-host will be Kristine Reese who writes and follows the New York Jets.  The plan is to have guests from opposing teams, either blog writers or media types, each week to discuss match-ups and what to look for in the upcoming game of the week.  We will talk fantasy football, have a survivor pool, and will feature a very special guest we call our “Resident Wiseguy” to pick the games of the week.

Make plans to join us live, or watch at your convenience as the week progresses.

Here’s what the Jets had to say today:

“Exactly what we wanted,” Sanchez said. “The pace, the tempo, the excitement. That was perfect. Exactly what Coach Sparano was preaching to us last night.”

“I felt like it went really well as an offense,” Tebow said. “I felt like we did some really good things. I felt pretty good about how I played out there.”

Some other notes from the Jets session:

1. Rex Ryan said he was the “best defensive coach” in the league. If that’s true, Sanchez and Tebow shouldn’t have many practice days like Friday. Ryan says he’ll be more involved on defense this year, possibly calling plays.

2.Santonio Holmes and Sanchez both lauded rookie Stephen Hill. “Steve is going to be exciting,” Holmes said.

3. Ryan won’t make excuses if the defense doesn’t perform this year. “I have everything in place right now,” Ryan said. “There is no question about it.”

I’m not sure why Rex doesn’t just relinquish the job of head coach and become the defensive coordinator of this team, he obviously has no interest in the other side of the ball.

Add to this that the Jets are back at Cortland this year…a place they practiced when they made it to two AFC Championship games, without winning any.  How silly of us to think it’s about players and execution…it’s the practice facility stupid!

Burress said in a radio interview with WFNZ in Charlotte on Monday that, “no doubt about it,” he wants to play for the Panthers next season but acknowledged he hasn’t received a call from the team.

In other words….”I hope somebody signs me, cause I wasted the 3 million those Jets gave me last year for doing nothing.”  You know I want to work for a few companies too, but I haven’t gotten a call from them either…hmmmm, maybe I’ll call the Wall Street Journal and announce all the places I’d like to work.

Plaxico, go home, be with the family you missed so much, and if you are lucky enough to get an offer from a team that says “Show us something and we will pay you” jump at it, until then, keep quiet, it’s no mystery you are unsigned.

The New York Football Giants have re done their tunnel that leads to the field at MetLife Stadium.  The logos of all the Super Bowls won by the franchise show the way to the field for the current team, and of course it needed to be updated after last years victory of the New England Patriots.  You will also notice the metal hangers above the murals…this is so they can be covered up by the other team that uses that tunnel to get to the field.  I’m still not sure why that team doesn’t use it as a motivating factor, but chooses to cover it up and act like they don’t exist, a curious decision by my standards.

We all know that Hakeem Nicks injured his foot last week and had surgery.  The WORST case scenario is for Hakeem to return two weeks before opening night. SO, of course, the media is asking how this will effect the Giants passing game.  Who will step up to take his place.  What will the Giants do?  Why do they have to do anything?  He is coming back, in plenty of time, and as we chronicled last week here at GMENHQ there are plenty of players in camp to play the wide receiver position.

But, someone had to ruin the coaches day by asking the most ridiculous question ever uttered.  Would the Giants call Plaxico Burress?  Plaxico who let the team down in 2008. Plaxico who “said” he turned down a Giants offer last year.  Plaxico who then ripped the organization he “didn’t want to play for” for not offering him a bigger deal.  Plaxico who stole some Jet money last year only to show how lazy he still is.  He never caught more than 5 balls in a game while catching 45 all year for 600 yards, with just 22 coming in the second half of the season. In 4 games Plax caught one or fewer balls. Plaxico who has turned into the Dwight Howard of the NFL telling everyone every week what team he would like to play for, and thankfully the Giants are off that list.

I realize it’s tough to write stories on a daily basis……..but to ask this question just shows no imagination

KEY RANKINGS:

1. New York Giants

Best addition: RB David Wilson, first-round pick

With Eli Manning and the front four, the Giants are still mighty Giants, and rookies Wilson and Rueben Randle will make up for key departures. The Giants will need to hang tough with a schedule even stronger than last season’s.

9. Philadelphia Eagles

Best addition: MLB DeMeco Ryans, trade acquisition

No one is talking about them as the Dream Team this year, and the perceived lower expectations may be just what Michael Vick and Andy Reid need for a big rebound.

10. Dallas Cowboys

Best addition: CB Morris Claiborne, first-round pick

It must have hurt to see the Giants wrestle the division away and then go on to win it all. The Cowboys have rebuilt their back seven pass defense, but they still go as Tony Romo does.

25. Washington Redskins

Best addition: QB Robert Griffin III, first-round pick

Griffin brings more than a dash of much-needed electricity to the offense, the entire team and the city. It will be fun watching him, even it if comes with significant growing pains.

SURPRISES?:

7. Denver Broncos

Best addition: QB Peyton Manning, free-agent pickup

This team already got to the divisional playoff round with a questionable passing game. If Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning, they can go a few miles higher.

12. New Orleans Saints

Best addition: G Ben Grubbs, free-agent pickup

Sean Payton is gone for the season and Gregg Williams is gone for good, which means Drew Brees will have more riding on his arm than usual. Now would be a good time to give Brees that big raise.

19. New York Jets

Best addition: S LaRon Landry, free-agent pickup

The Jets were a mediocre team last season, and despite the flashy Tebow pickup, there are still  big questions about just how much substance they have on both sides of the ball.

What do you think of these rankings?

Week One: In Jacksonville TBA

Week Two: At Jets TBA

Week Three:  Friday August 24th vs Chicago on CBS

Week Four: Wednesday August 29th vs New England

Carr: 92 NFL Games, a 60% completion percentage with 14,433 yards passing, 65 TD passes and 9 rushing TD’s. #1 Overall Pick

Tebow: 23 NFL games, a 47% completion percentage with 2,383 yards passing, 17 TD’s and 12 rushing TD’s.

Carr was also a number one overall pick in the NFL Draft, who now clearly understands the role of a back-up QB.  He is there and ready to go at a moments notice, IF anything happens to the starter.  He understands and can execute the entire offense with the same skill set as the starter.

Tebow says he is here to become a better QB, to compete at the highest level, to push the starter.  He possesses an entirely different skill set than the starter, and has been guaranteed a package of plays just for him.  Doesn’t sound like a back-up to me.  I do have one question for JET fans: In this new era of football there is limited practice time every week.  There is no longer any practice on Tuesdays for instance, Mondays are for treatment, and pads can only be worn for some specified amount of time a week.  The Jets have a starting QB that the GM, Owner, and Coach all agreed took a step back last season and needs to pick it up.  So, during the week of practice there will be times when the coaches say “Hey, Mark…in this set of plays you are a wide receiver, so go stand out there and pretend to go out for a pass.”  or “Hey Mark..We’re going to practice goal line, and short yardage for the next set of plays, so go sit over there and watch”.  Not sure that is going to make him more accurate, as you limit the time he works with his teammates….just saying.

Steve is a fan favorite and a fantastic presence in the lockerroom, and a steady performer on the field. Weatherford easily could have been named MVP of the Super Bowl and the Giants recognize how his presence makes their defense that much better. The ability to make every team travel 90 yards or more on every drive is priceless to a team. Weatherford also neutralizes some of the best athletes in the game as he kicks balls out of bounds or pins returners to the sideline.   The stability of the Special Teams allows the offense and defense to be more aggressive and hopefully that much more successful.

Welcome Back Steve!