Fans of both teams are giving a Giant New York Welcome to Brett Favre.
Giants fans knew the honeymoon was over as soon as Jeremy Shockey opened his mouth. It had been an incredible run which ended with Giants fans cheering as Goliath lay, headless, wearing a hoodie. But, alas, all good things must come to an end.
At some point, the Giants had to stop celebrating and get back to work. Everyone knows how hard it is to win back-to-back Super Bowls. After all, there's more attention and expectations, and with all of it comes an unbelievable amount of pressure.
Add to this pressure the fact that the face of the franchise retired, the All-Pro tight end was screaming for a trade, and a newly-proven big game receiver was asking for more money. Things did not look good.
Fast forward a month and a half and Giants fans are sitting back watching camp in Albany and getting ready to watch their beloved G-Men defend their championship.
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Shockey has been shipped off, and the cancer has been removed from the locker room. Cooler heads have prevailed in the Plaxico Burress case and Plax is working while the agent is talking.
Fans are realizing that Osi Umenyora and Justin Tuck will once again lead the best front line in football and the team has plenty of leadership with Eli's professionalism and Antonio Pierce's fire.
"What about the pressure of expectations?" I say "What expectations?" The Giants weren't even supposed to make the playoffs last year; not with a revamped Redskin team, a dangerous Eagles team, and a seasoned Tony Romo in Dallas.
The question of repeating is not asked of the Giants, but of the Patriots. Everyone wants to see if they can go 19-0. They're the team everyone's picking. Hell, most people aren't even picking the Giants to win the division.
As a final piece to the pressure free Giants camp, Brett Favre has just been dealt to the New York Jets to help them make the playoffs. The legend will steal the headlines from Eli, just the way Eli likes it.
The Giants won't be top bill at the beginning, a perfect way to start their lazy march back to the playoffs.
Eli can make the mistakes that are bound to happen. He can quietly come back to being a mere mortal and pilot his team against a very hard division, without having to worry whether his two-interception game will be talked about all week. Sure, he'll get attention, but it won't be as much with a green No. 4 under center for the Jets.
The Giants have been handed quite an opportunity in the offseason frenzy. An ability to quietly get to work at camp, for their shy quarterback to quietly take the reins at the beginning of a season, and a media obsessed with a legend, a coach and a pursuit of perfection.
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22 days ago
This was great insight.
from 22 days ago
thanks Bob
21 days ago
Nice article Shawn, and very poignant.
I don't think and of this gets them back to the SB, but good points anyway.
from 21 days ago
Yeah, the only thing that will get them back is their play, but the less pressure, the better
20 days ago
I do agree that it's nice to have Favre around taking the attention off Eli.
18 days ago
Nice article but will Favre being a Jet really matter if the media really wants to go after Eli again?...probably not but with that being said I don't think Eli will give th press much ammo this year...this is his break out year and that's why this team will be good for a full season...I also like your point of Pierce being a leadership figure...many were worried about that but I wasn't...Pierce is a true leader on defense and is as consistent a tackler as they come...I can't wait for the start of the season and to prove people wrong yet again
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