4 DAYS TO KICKOFF!!!

Memo to Plaxico - SHUT UP!!!!!!! As someone told me, what do you expect him to say - the Pats will win? What he's done is put a bullseye on his back - if they win, he's a hero - if they lose, he's a loud mouth (we already know that).

Got my supplies for Sunday - Wings, Veggie Platter, Chips...beer run Saturday...box pool sheet for entertainment purposes...

I don't understand what the big deal on the Patriots book is...18-1 is still an interesting story.....

Prediction tomorrow

5 DAYS TO KICKOFF!!!!

The annual exercise is stupidity known as Super Bowl Media Day is over...the lady in the wedding dress got her 2 minutes of fame north of the border - now go back home. I enjoyed the comments of Toomer about getting there for a second time...He and Strahan were around for the last trip and they don't want a repeat of the embarrassing loss to the Ravens.

You are starting to see articles pop up on how the Giants can win the game...they say the same thing I've been saying for four weeks...no mistakes on offense, control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the line, and defense must limit the other team's big plays. An interesting point - the last interception by Eli was against the Pats, the last time the Giants lost...

I dug out an old headline montage I put together after the Giants NFC Title win against the Vikings - a sweet win since my sister has been a Vikings fan since we were kids. Funny how Jim Fassel was hailed as a genius back then...now, it looks like he's headed to Washington - wonder if the Skins fans will hail him as a genius or he'll become another disaster for Mini-Me Snyder...

6 DAYS TO GO!

Gotta admit the 'Men in Black' idea was a good one...The G-Men have landed in Arizona...

One story which will be talked about is Punter Jeff Feagles - He was set to retire a couple of seasons ago, but his family talked him out of it...and finally, he gets to a Super Bowl. Those are the feel-good you love to hear....

Today is Media Day....a mass press event which allows all assembled media to speak with everyone and anyone on the team...it also gives folks a look at the Super Bowl stadium. It was a very interesting experience when I covered the game three years ago...Get ready for alot of stupid questions and answers....

I enjoyed USA Today's article on Monday on footballspeak...Joe Buck's NY Football Giants line was funny, but a throwback to the days when both baseball's and football's Giants played in the same city and the same field (Polo Grounds). I have to laugh also when you do an EBay search for Giants and get all the San Fran team stuff...gotta remember to put NY in there...

7 DAYS TO KICKOFF!!!!

Notice how much different Super Bowl week feels this year with our team playing in it? There's a bounce in our step, stores are filled with SB42 memorbillia (got my shirt, jersey and hat), and an anticipation for Sunday...I remember the days counting down to the first Giants trip to Pasadena in 1987...as Dave Klein, a respected writer for the Star-Ledger, now with Giants Today, said to his kids "this was the game the Giants never played in, now they will"...I'm most excited to share this moment with my daughter - she was 4 the last time they played in the Super Bowl and had no idea what it meant. She's the one who told me I was having a Super Bowl party and told me who to invite. Her daddy is bring the buffalo wings to her school Super Bowl party Wednesday and I have to wear my Eli jersey to match hers...

Gotta love some of the articles about the game popping up in the NYC papers. Today's Post gives the rap sheet for the Patriots - 8 players with arrests and records...kinda reminds me of the old Notre Dame/Miami rivalry in college football...did't they call the game 'the convicts vs. the catholics'?

THE QUIET BEFORE THE STORM

It's Friday, the weekend between the Super Bowl and the Championship Games...ewxcitement is building...

The new SI has both Peter King and Dr. Z picking the boys in blue...I can't decide if that's a good thing....

I heard something which makes alot of sense - look for the NFL to move the Super Bowl to Saturday Night in the future. The number of people calling out sick the day after is almost 10 percent...playing the game Saturday would give folks a day to recover and since there's 2 weeks between games, it wouldn't be a hardship for those involved...

Going to rest this weekend...the hype begins Monday!

BRADY - NON ISSUE

Is anyone surprised the Tom Brady injury is a non-issue? OK, I see your hand in Monmouth Beach and yours in Freehold.

In listening and reading various reports and comments about the game Sunday, I have to say I agree with those who trash the Packers coaches...their game plan stunk (of course, Big Blue had something to so with that). As much as the storybook ending would have been for BRETT FARVE to go to the Super Bowl, the Packers beat themselves (and of course, Big Blue had something to so with that, too).

I've kinda settled into a try to forget the game mode for a couple of days....because next week will be HYPE week. Everything you wanted to know about every Giant will be known and discussed.

One note - Love the NY Post article talking about the Giants new GM and how he built the team - REESE'S PIECES. Ha Ha!

Picked up my Locker Room Championship T-Shirt for Super Sunday - it's only $19.99 at a certain sporting goods chain we've got to go to....

Anyone have tickets to sell?

DID YOU NOTICE SUNDAY?

Something I never heard - how the two games featured the two QB's who figured in the '04 draft trade at the top of the draft? Kinda interesting both made it to the title game for the first time the same year.


Also, the two 'best' Quarterbacks in those games both played terribly? Brady won because the Chargers 'D' couldn't contain Maroney in the 2nd half, but he was awful. The NY Post pictures of him in a protective boot on his foot answer part of the question, but will it affect him on February 3rd? And Farve did nothing in the 2nd half and threw the pick that cost them the game.


I thought the comment to surface about the Giants starting to think they could win a championship was after the Patriots game which was their last loss. I agree - up till then, they'd laid an egg everytime they'd face a 'contender'. The close game against New England showed them they could contend. I keep thinking back to 1991...in that season, The Giants lost to Buffalo in the next to last game of the season (Simms was injured in that game, Hostettler became starting QB), but were able to gameplan for the Super Bowl. Does history repeat itself?

I'll say it now - I'm thinking upset.....

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

THE GIANTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!

An unbelievable season continues...10 straight road wins! It's Big Blue against Perfection.

Once again, the defense led the way with a key takeaway in OT and Eli played mistake free once again. I thought the offense played well - Plaxico was a monster, & Bradshaw and Jacobs gained ground when they needed to.

Considering no one was expecting anything from the Giants this year, the fact they are the NFC champs is amazing....

I guess I'll be keeping busy for the next two weeks...Next stop: Glendale, Arizona!

SUNDAY LOOMS!

As the clock ticks towards a freezing Sunday in Wisconsin, I noted the number of articles talking about the last time these two teams met in the Championship game. The 61 & 62 Packers were in the heart of a run of championships under Vince Lombardi, ex-Giants offensive genius. Oh how different this might be if Vince had stayed or come back to Big Blue instead of Allie Sherman, Alex Webster, etc.

In less than 24 hours, we could be on Cloud Nine or in the doledrums...we'll know by 10 tomorrow if the 3rd times a charm against Green Bay....

CRYSTAL BALL TIME....

OK - now it's time for a prediction...As I've said thruout the week, I'm trying to be realistic in my feelings about the game. While we beat Dallas the #1 seed, going into Green Bay and beating the Packers will take another superhuman effort from the defense. They have to hold BRETT FARVE to two TD's or less...the Packers offense can put lots of points on the board and last weekend showed they can play from behind. I've been using the Bears theory from last year about the Giants this year...Defense will carry the team, the QB needs to have a mistake free game. Last year, I knew Grossman would play 2 or 3 games well, but then a clunker which came in the Super Bowl. Eli's the same way - he's been playing well for the last 3 games, his history indicates a clunker is due...the question - is this the week for that? How does Giants 24-23 sound?...in the AFC, the Pats will smoke San Diego 42-3...this one will be over 5 minutes in...

Injury News - CBs Sam Madison and Aaron Ross were limited in practice...but both hope to play. For Madison, it would be his first appearance of the playoff this year.

From the You've Got to Be Kidding department - The NY Daily News had the following item in the TV section Thursday - Fox's Green Bay affiliate, WLUK-TV, has canceled its regular 5:30 p.m. showing of a "Seinfeld" rerun Saturday because it doesn't want to do anything to make life relaxing for quarterback Eli Manning, whose Giants play Green Bay's Packers Sunday for the NFC championship. Manning says "Seinfeld" is his favorite TV show, and WLUK figures 5:30 Saturday is just about when Manning will be relaxing in his hotel room. Eli - bring your DVD's! For those of you who are Seinfeld fanatics, one memorable episode featuring Elaine's boyfriend Joel Rifkin (not the mass murderer) used Giants Stadium as a scene and a shot of LT. " How about changing your name to O.J. Rifkin?"

WHAT COLD?

Much has been made of the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field, but the reality is the Giants home is also outdoors in the Northeast, not exactly known as a winter warm spot. Weather conditions like those in the last game for the Packers cause trouble...clear cold weather makes sitting there watching a miserable experience, but not a playing nightmare. I heard an interesting stat about BRETT FARVE (Thank you, Frank Caliendo) - while he was 34-0 with the temp below freezing, he's only 9-5 in his last 14 sub-freezing starts....One thing I don't look forward to - everyone picking the Pack to win because of America's love affair with BRETT FARVE, because he's BRETT FARVE....

Good news - looks like CB Aaron Ross will be back in the lineup with a shoulder brace.

Three days and counting...

COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS!

Sunday night is looming on the horizon....while I look forward to the game, I do so with some trepidation. In a past life, I covered the Eagles professionally, and went through the three straight trips to the NFC Championship games with only one win. In each of those years, I was aware of the mounting injuries and the toll they were taking on the team. And unfortunately, I see some parallels with those Eagle teams in the Giants heading to Sunday in Green Bay. The secondary is banged up, No Shockey...and a team which many feel has overachieved and played their hearts out to get to this point. While a win would be great, I can't say I'm booking a trip to Arizona based on my confidence level.

I can't leave the Dallas game behind without a comment on the Dalls post-game antics. T.O. should be nominated for an Oscar - he's better than Johnny Depp. And Wade Phillips' comments Monday show why he's such a lousy coach...he's a great regular season coach, but playoffs are another story.
Another thought...do you think Romo and Jessica would have gone to Mexico if Parcells was still running the show? I think we all know the answer to that one...

UNBELIEVABLE!

Every year, I always throw a bet on the Giants to win the NFC and the Super Bowl just for laughs. It paid off in 2000, but this year, I bet against them to win 8 games...so now, they are in the Championship game in Green Bay.
The defense did what I said - hold them to 2 touchdowns...Eli played well again! Now, the D will have to ratchet it up again against Brett Farve again.
Loved the graphic shown at the end of the game - the #1 seeds in the NFC were 17-0 since the current format was adopted. Let's make that 17-1...
Also, loved the shot of Jerry Jones at the end of the game...that's 11 years since their last playoff win...

We can enjoy this one...a trip to the Frozen Tndra is next...

TIED AT THE HALF

I'm pleased with the first half...Giants tied at 14 with the Cowboys, but some things are a bit concerning. The injury bug continues to eat at the secondary...the defense has to stop Marion Barber. But, the offense drive at the end of the half is what we've been hoping for from Eli.

Still 30 minutes to go...can the Giants punch their ticket to Green Bay?

T.O. TO GO...TOLD YOU!

Thursday the news out of Dallas is T.O. will play Sunday...I knew he would!

For the Giants, Shawn O'Hara may be back in the lineup, which is good news.

I'm tryng to keep my thoughts separate from my fan emotions....I can't stand Dallas, and have one of those "My Favorite teams are the Giants and whoever is playing Dallas" shirts. As I hope upon hope Big Blue smokes the boys from Texas, I honestly can't see how the Giants can win unless the D holds Dallas to under 2 touchdowns...and Eli plays mistake free football. Without the two things, I think it might be a long day for Gaints fans.

My other weekend picks - Indy, The Pats & the Pack.

COUNTDOWN TO SUNDAY...

The clock ticks closer to an appointment with the Cowboys...The Giants are 7 1/2 point dogs in this one. I can't help but think back to when they won their 1st title...had to beat the Redskins 3 times that year. It's not easy to beat a team twice in a season, but 3 times...that's why I like the Giants chances...but we have to get off to a good start. While Eli has played better in the last two games, the offense must get up on the Cowboys. The defense will have it's hands full, although T.O. is a game-time decision (he'll play), there are other weapons on the field. The defense will have to do a better job than they did in the other two games.

Interesting note in the NY Post yesterday...Terry Bradshaw says he's going to retire from the Fox pregame show when his contract expires, and said it would be a perfect spot for Michael Strahan. First off, Bradshaw must be kidding - leave that job! Jimmie Hairdo is older and he's not squawking about leaving...secondly, Strahan will be doing TV by then (2011) and I doubt it will be a pre-game show. He does have the personality and would be a natural for the booth. I'm guessing this is a non-story, just more hype for the game....on Fox....Sunday at 4...just before an all-new Simpsons...and don't forget American Idol's season debut Tuesday at 8 on FOX!

One other note...America's blonde disaster will not attend the game...she's working on a album. Darn...I'm guessing she doesn't show in Dallas for another game unless they are married.

ROAD WARRIORS

As I woke up and listened to Fox Sports reports this morning, I became aware of an interesting fact about our boys in blue...they only lost one road game this year - the opener in Dallas. That certainly bodes well going into Sunday.
But, there's a reason why Dallas is the #1 seed in the playoffs. Their offense is scary good.

Anyone willing to pay Jessica Simpson to come to the game and root her boyfriend Tony Romo on?

Giants Win

As I begin this column, I am writing about something I never imagined at the beginning of the season - the Giants in the playoffs. Hell, I bet on the Giants winning less than 8 games in Vegas when I was there in August...I lost that one.

Today's game reflected the Giants season...lousy start, great ending. The Defense played well, and Eli didn't make a mistake. It was a great win in Tampa, but now we need to go to Big D and face the Cowboys. It will take another big effort to beat Dallas.

An afterthought - I was having a discussion with a fellow fan of Big Blue....and he asked if I thought Coughlin would be back. I never hesitated - he should be back. He's done a good job this year and the Giants made the playoffs for a third stright season...something not done since the 80's. The issue is who replaces him if they cut him loose? I don't think the Giants problems are Coughlin related...once again, injuries have hurt and an ineffective running game at times. The Giants need a stud running back to tandem with Brandon Jacobs in roder for Eli and the offense to be successful. The Giants are a couple of players away from the elite of the NFC...if they can keep clear of the injury bug next year, it could be a season to remember. One other point to remember - Coughlin changed his act and I think it made him a better coach.