Ed Valentine has a great “Kudos and Wet Willies” up this morning, check it out:
Clipped from: www.bigblueview.com (share this clip)
My favorite Kudo just happened to be about Ahmad Bradshaw:
"Eighty-nine yards on 17 carries for Bradshaw, pretty much every last one of those yards entirely on his own. He got zero help from the offensive line, or alleged blocking fullback Madison Hedgecock. You just have to love this guy’s ability, and even more than that the effort he puts forth every time he touches the ball."
My favorite Wet Willy went to the coaching staff… particularly Kevin Gilbride:
"God, I hate to sound like Jeremy Shockey, but the Giants absolutely did not look ready to play Sunday night. It’s as disturbed as I’ve ever been watching a Tom Coughlin team. In a game I thought set up well to give the Giants a chance at what would have been an upset, it was obvious from the opening drive that they had no chance. A lot of that is on TC, who you guys know I believe is a terrific coach. I have no idea what the Giants were thinking, or trying to accomplish, Sunday night.What was going on with Perry Fewell’s defense? I understood the plan — which was play pass first and use your front four to contain whatever running the usually pass-happy Colts tried to do. But, Perry, when you are getting absolutely gashed on the ground you have to adjust. Fewell stayed with the two-linebacker set until the third quarter, when it was way too late. The first real ‘chess match’ challenge for the Giants new defensive coordinator, and he flunked. Miserably.While I’m blasting coaches, can’t excuse everybody’s favorite whipping boy, Kevin Gilbride. Hey Kevin, did you watch any film last week? Did you realize that the Houston Texans shredded the Indianapolis defense by RUNNING THE FOOTBALL. Did you or TC ever stop to think that maybe keeping Peyton off the field by chewing up the clock and RUNNING THE FOOTBALL might be a good idea. I often defend Gilbride, because he is a much better offensive coordinator than many around here give him credit for. Once or twice every season, though, the Giants come out with an offensive game plan that leaves me wanting to rip out what’s left of my hair. Sunday night was one of those nights."
And staying on task, Valentine got onto an early role this morning by taking it harshly to Brandon Jacobs:
Clipped from: www.bigblueview.com (share this clip)
"I really have two questions about Jacobs right now. First, what will the league do about his childish behavior? Second, and maybe more important to the Giants in the end, is what should they do with him?I’m pretty certain a fairly hefty fine is coming Jacobs way from Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office. A suspension could also be coming — one which I would find completely justified after Jacobs put fans in harm’s way.After the league doles out whatever punishment it deems appropriate the Giants are still left with a 6-foot-4, 265-pound problem. What are they going to do with the big man.He isn’t happy, that much has been obvious by his demeanor since Day 1 of training camp. He isn’t running well, as he seems to want to dance rather than use his frame to punish people. He has now officially become a distraction.So, what to do? Bench him? Suspend him yourself? Cut him? Just let the season play out and hope his attitude and performance improve?I don’t really know what the right answer is, or what the Giants will do. Pretty obvious, though, that they have to do something."
And as a stark reminder of how bad a start you could have juxtaposed against the expectations on your team, here is the NYT entertaining the thought of who’s more disappointing – the Vikings or Cowboys:
Clipped from: fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com (share this clip)