Random Musings: The Giants' Chances, Tom Brady's Ankle, and More

Welcome to the NFL Super Bowl, err—Big Game bye week. 

Normally, it’s just practice for the off season.  No NFL games, reduced to watching the NBA (on TNT), NHL (on OLN), college basketball (on ESPN and ESPN2), or professional curling (on ESPN 12)—it’s a nightmare to prepare us for the nightmarishly long NFL offseason.

But it’s so much worse when your favorite team is in the big game.

If you’re like me, you’re reduced to writing fake Tom Brady interviews. (Look, I’m sorry about the shameless self promotion, but I really, really need a new Patriot jersey with my name on the back.)

I also began writing the longest mock draft in the history of the Internet.   So far, the Dolphins-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Miami_Dolphins-230108">Dolphins and Rams-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_St_Louis_Rams-250108">Rams have made their selections (Glenn Dorsey and Jake Long respectively). 

I’ll probably get the next two picks up sometime this week.

Tom Brady’s Famous Ankle

Tom Brady’s ankle hasn’t had this much press coverage since the 2001 Super Bowl. 

A high ankle sprain didn’t keep him out of the Super Bowl in 2001 (and we all know how that worked out). Does anyone really think the same injury will keep him out of the 2007 Super Bowl?

That said, the ankle injury clearly affected his performance in the AFC championship game. His mechanics were off, he missed open guys, and played his worst game of the season. 

If he has the same type of performance in the Super Bowl, the Giants definitely have a chance.

Speaking of the Giants and Their Chances

I like how people are pointing to the week 17 “close” game between the Patriots and Giants and using that as cause to believe the Super Bowl is going to be a close game. 

Well, allow me to retort…

1. The Patriots played eight minutes of good offensive football in that game, yet they still scored 38 points.

2. Yes, the game ended up being a three-point game, but that was after a garbage touchdown late in the fourth quarter after the Patriots’ defense called off the dogs. It was really a ten point game.

3. The Patriots were on the road, in Giants Stadium, and still managed to beat the Giants.

4. The Giants are playing on some serious momentum—momentum which is likely to be impacted by the two week layoff. The Giants would have preferred to play this Sunday instead of next, no doubt about that.

5. Let’s not forget, their momentous run through the NFC playoffs began with a LOSS to the New England Patriots. The revisionists among us are treating that game as if the Giants won.

I’m not making an official prediction until Thursday, but if anyone can give me a reason to expect the Giants to keep the game close, please feel free to post it in the comments section below. 

I’m looking for reasons to believe this will be a good Super Bowl—I just can’t seem to find any particularly convincing ones.

Other Random Tidbits

1. I know this isn’t at all sports related, but of everything that came out of the whole Heath Ledger thing, I can’t seem to get past the fact that the Brokeback Mountain guy was dating the little girl from Full House

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