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!

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.

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!

Many had thought , for good reason, that the NFL would pair the previous two Super Bowl Champions against each other with the Packers making a trip to New Jersey.   The news came out that actually the NFL had been considering the Cowboys and Saints as opening night opponents for the Giants, and with the mess the Saints have gotten themselves into, they were obviously disregarded as a possibility.

So. it’s all set…..Wednesday September 5th in New York against the Cowboys, hope they don’t mind a little Ring Ceremony before the start of the game!

Expect the NFL to keep the information coming as rule changes will be voted on, Player punishments for the Saints, and the new NIKE uniforms are unveiled next week (April 3rd).  Oh yeah, and a little thing called the NFL Draft is just a month away.

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.

While the rest of the football world looks towards the Tebow Brady match-up, The Giants take on the Washington Redskins (4-9) in New Jersey tomorrow at 1:00 Eastern.  The Redskins have struggled this year after a good start due mainly to injuries.  No Giants fan wants to hear about how injuries have affected another team, but the losses by the offensive side of the ball have prevented the Redskins from finding much success this year.

Offense:  The Losses of  WR Santana Moss for a large portion of the season, RB Tim Hightower, and TE Chris Cooley, among others has taken away all the balance of this offense.  When your choices at QB are John Beck and Rex Grossman, losing weapons like the above mentioned names is a killer.  The ‘Skins average only 17.5 points per game and are last in rushing yards at 94.  Rookie Roy Helu has stepped in and done an admirable job replacing HIghtower, and the Giants must concentrate on stopping him both in running situations and out of the backfield.  The Redskins showed last week a myriad of trick plays and mis-directions that will test the discipline of the Giants.  Half back passes, wide receiver passes, throw back screens, and double reverses will all be utilized tomorrow to somehow score enough points to be competitive.

Defense: The strength of this Redskin team is up front on defense.  They have drafted and signed well in this area.  They play a three four with both outside linebackers being very active in the pass rush recording 34 sacks as a team.  The Giants will need to continue their strong work up front and give Eli time to find his receivers downfield.  The ‘Skins placed Safety LaRon Landry on IR this week.  LaRon, who regularly gets flattened by Brandon Jacobs, is their best run stopper from the secondary. The secondary has 9 interceptions on the year and the team has an abysmal -14 turnover ratio.

The Giants will need to play well on offense as has been the norm the past few weeks.  Getting off to a fast start and converting early will go along way in this game.  The defense will need to stay disciplined, stop the run, and let Rex Grossman deal with the pressure from the front four.  These last three games are all extremely important to the Giants, but the two division games against these Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys are MUST wins.  I see Eli continuing his good play and the Giants getting a win here.

The Jets….guaranteed to win the Super Bowl, have shown a propensity for blowing games this year.  Their offense has no identity and Mark Sanchez seems to be struggling with his confidence, his accuracy, and his decision making.  Sanchez doesn’t seem to be able to comprehend that Plaxico is a TALL receiver, although Plax reminds him after every incomplete pass by pointing to the sky. I also thought it was funny when Mike Mayock pointed out that on the interception Sanchez threw for a TD, that “Plaxico needs to fight for his Qb a little harder  there” Plaxico? Fight? Watch some more film Mike!  The problem the Jets face right now is that they have managed to lose to every team they might find themselves tied with in the AFC Wild Card race.  Losing to Oakland, Baltimore, and now Denver puts them in a precarious position.  I heard once again this morning that the JETS have a “favorable” schedule.  I’m guessing Denver was one of those favorable match-ups as of last week?  Is anyone suggesting this team can’t possibly lose to the Eagles, The Giants, or even the resurgent Dolphins?  Without having the tie-breaker advantage I am not sure that 9-7 is going to cut it this year, but we will see.