Bleacher Report - Articles by Robert Domaine

New York Giants: Bedlam in The Big Apple

Robert Domaine — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:58:37 -0500

There is something wrong in the Big Apple. Watching the New York Giants this season has been like watching an episode of the Twilight Zone.

Trying to diagnose where it all went wrong is extremely difficult. The fact remains, this isn't the same team we have all grown accustomed to for the past five years.

This week, Antonio Pierce was the seventh Giants player to be placed on the dreaded IR list. Hearing this news made me throw my hands up in the air like AP in the photo above.

What else can go wrong? The laundry list of players on IR, sitting out games, or playing injured is too lengthy to list here. Let's just say, injuries are a top two reason for the Giants poor season thus far.

People will yell, "All teams deal with injuries, and that it isn't an excuse." They are right to some extent, but not in this case. This is not an excuse; it is a fact and a dismantling of starters on a very good team.

I saw things that I had never seen before this year. I saw Easy Eli lose his cool on the field and yell at a fellow player. I've seen Osi go absolutely ballistic on the sidelines during the Thanksgiving game.

Basically, I saw the players' frustration boil into a rage. But what are they upset about? Is it the play calling or the players' performance? What exactly has gotten this team so unraveled this year?

I leave that up to the reader to decide. Some fans are clamoring for the heads of DC Bill Sheridan and OC Kevin Gilbride. There is no question that the play calling on both sides of the ball have been suspect all season.

How much of that is the coaches' fault and how much of it has to do with playing second-stringers, I don't know. I do know there will be changes made next season.

Every area of the team has experienced some sort of decline. The offensive and defensive lines haven't performed up to their usual standards.

The running game hasn't been very good. Even the special teams have had issues with Tynes missing FG's and Jeff Feagles having arguably his worst season ever.

If there is one bright spot on the team, it has to be the wide receivers. Funny enough, the wide receivers were the area of most concern for Giants fans before the season started. Everything is upside down.

This Sunday, the Cowboys come into town in first place in the NFC East. This will be a battle, as division games are always the toughest. The Giants will need to play this game like they have nothing to lose because in truth, they don't.

They are at a crossroads, and the time has come for a change in the play calling and overall attitude. It is time to see what tricks the coaches have up their sleeves and let it all hang out before we tumble any further down the rabbit hole.

The Giants play the Eagles and Redskins back-to-back following the Cowboys game. That is three division games in a row during the second half of the year. Brutal in terms of scheduling.

The G-Men will need to suck it up and continue to fight through their worst season in years. The coaches are frustrated, the players are embarrassed, and this team has their backs up against a wall. This makes them very dangerous.

The Giants know that Sunday's game against the Cowboys could seal their playoff fate. A loss would be devastating to the rest of their short season.

In the words of the immortal LT, I expect this team to come out like a bunch of crazed dogs and win this game on sheer pride.

My final score prediction is Giants 24, Cowboys 21.

New York Giants: Thanksgiving Day Game

Robert Domaine — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:51:46 -0500

NFL football on Thanksgiving Day has become an American tradition. Most Americans will find themselves surrounded by family and friends, eating a feast and enjoying each others' company. In a typical American home, you will more than likely find the guys in the living room watching football, while the ladies prepare the meal in the kitchen or dining room.

But for some, specifically in Detroit and Dallas, turkey day is a bit different. Football fans in these two cities will actually attend the games. For them, this holiday just wouldn't be complete without attending the games. They take it very seriously, as the gentleman shown in the photo above with the turkey on his head demonstrates.

For fans like him, Thanksgiving means football.

The New York Giants will travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. With just three days rest in between the Atlanta game and the Thanksgiving day game, the G-Men will need to prepare quickly. Reports have come out about Giants owner John Mara, sending a letter to the NFL voicing his displeasure with the scheduling.

Who could blame him? The fact that the team needs to travel across the country eliminates about a full day of preparation and rest. The Atlanta game on Sunday went into overtime, something that doesn't help the situation one bit.

Still, there is a game to play. The Broncos came out of the gates strong this season. They have already won more games than most expected under a first year head coach, who got rid of his all-pro QB Jay Cutler. They find themselves struggling now and are hungry for a win. This is a dangerous team right now, but so are the Giants.

Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot in competitive divisions. They match up well with each other and I expect a good performance from both teams. Eli Manning had one of his best games of the season last weekend throwing for 384 yards and three TDs. That positive momentum is something the team hopes will carry into this battle with the Broncos.

The two areas I see that will prove to be the keys to victory are the quarterbacks and the defensive units. Both are areas where the Giants are statistically superior. The defensive units match up well, with the G-Men having a slight edge.

Overall, the Giants are ranked second in total defense, while Denver is ranked seventh. But on offense, the numbers fall off a cliff with the Giants being ranked fourth in overall offense and the Broncos ranked 22nd.

I expect Eli Manning to manage the game and dominate the time of possession.

There simply won't be enough time for Denver to do any damage. The Broncos have excellent defensive backs, so Easy Eli will need to be sharp and avoid any mistakes the Broncos could possibly capitalize on. The Giants will need to pick up plenty of first downs and keep the penalties to a minimum.

Both teams have a record of 6-4 and a win by either team, would put them in a good position to take over first place in their respective divisions. The current first place teams in their divisions, Dallas and San Diego, both lost to the Giants and Broncos earlier in the year.

San Diego beat Denver last weekend to split the series and the Giants play Dallas in week 13. There is a lot riding on this Thanksgiving day game for both franchises.

In my opinion, the Giants will win this game. I don't expect a shootout but more of a defensive battle. My guess for the final score would be Giants 20 Denver 14.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

New York Yankees: The Greatest Team On The Planet

Robert Domaine — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:00:19 -0500

Watching the New York Yankees win the World Series this year made me reflect on the past. My mind wandered to a decade ago and to a specific date, October 27, 1999. A date that represents my all-time greatest sports moment.

Now, I have been to plenty of playoff games in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. I have seen championship boxing matches and I've seen Tiger Woods play the Honda Classic. But nothing can compare to being in the stadium when your favorite team wins a championship. The atmosphere is simply electric.

The New York Yankees were up three games to none on the Atlanta Braves heading into game four at Yankee stadium. On the mound were, Roger Clemens vs. John Smoltz. A truly awesome pitching match up with two of the best starting pitchers (both Cy Young winners) in MLB history. The stage was set and everything was perfect in the Bronx.

The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the third and things were pretty quiet until both teams scored a run in the eighth making it 4-1.

Since you all know the outcome of the game, I will continue to the ninth inning and Mariano Rivera coming out to the "Enter Sandman" song blasting through the speakers. The 56,000 fans could taste the victory and the stadium erupted into a deafening wave of cheers and screams. Rivera forced a fly ball for the final out and the place went absolutely berserk. The Yankees swept the Braves by winning 4-1.

People were crying and hugging complete strangers. Flashbulbs popped off from every direction as fans tried to capture the moment forever. The players jumped all over the field celebrating the victory. My best friend and I stared in awe at the scene, tears rolling down our faces and so excited that we didn't know what to do. It was a complete sensory overload and I have never felt anything like that since. That includes being in Times Square for New Years Eve.

Mariano Rivera would win the MVP award and the Yankees added their 25th championship to the list.

Watching the 2009 Yankees celebrate on their home field brought me back to that place in my mind from a decade earlier. Reliving the experience as I watched the game on TV like many of you readers. For those wondering, it never gets old and I'm sure that winning the 27th championship felt just as good as the first.

People can say whatever they want about the Yankees. The true Yankee fans are used to it and have heard it all before. Real Yankee fans care more about the love for the team than they do about the hate for opponents. It doesn't matter what they say because nothing will change the fact that the New York Yankees are World Champions and the greatest team on the planet. Thank you God for making me a Yankee fan!

New York Giants: When The Going Gets Tough...

Robert Domaine — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:58:54 -0500

I still remember being excited for the NFL draft way back in April. Following the draft and investigating all of the picks the G-Men made. I remember how excited I was about the free agent signings as well. The team looked so deep on paper and the combination of the draft picks and free agents seemed to address the areas of concern perfectly. Jerry Reese had proven once again, why he is an elite GM in the National Football League.

Then Big Blue started the season at 5-0 and had earned 1st place in the NFC East. Everything seemed to be clicking in New York and the Giants looked like the team to beat in the NFL. Many experts had them ranked the No. 1 team in the entire NFL. The standards by which they make these calculations vary but nobody could deny that the Giants were a very good football team.

I slowly began to notice more names popping up on the injury reports. Some of them placed on season ending IR (currently six players) and some siting out of games for weeks at a time. I became concerned but I wasn't panicking. Then players began dropping like flies. At one point, eighteen different players showed up on the injury report or on IR. I began to get nervous.

Week six arrived and the injuries could no longer be ignored. The New Orleans Saints exploited the 2nd stringers and thoroughly beat the G-Men like no team had done before this year. I thought to myself, the team will regroup and perform better next week. Being 5-1 is not a bad way to start the season.

I was wrong. The Giants would end up losing the next three games. Their record dropping to 5-4 and they found themselves in third place in the NFC East.

This brings us to the current day and the bye week at week 10. No doubt, Coach Coughlin chopped the season up into three or four sections and set goals for the team in each quarter or third of the year. With seven games left in the regular season, the Giants need to come up with a plan of attack that will allow them to make a run at the playoffs. It is difficult to imagine the frustration of the coaches who are not only trying to make the team healthy but also make the players stepping up perform at the same level as the starters. The clock is ticking.

The schedule following the bye week doesn't help Big Blue much either. Five of the seven teams they face are dangerous teams. Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia & Minnesota have all been playing very well. The Giants have only three days off in between the Atlanta game and the Thanksgiving day game against Denver. Washington and Carolina seem to be the only two teams the Giants should beat. The other five games are question marks at this point. At full strength, the Giants could dominate any of these teams. But having so many players injured or playing injured, you have to see the writing on the wall. As bizarre as it may sound, the Giants number one concern should be getting healthy and fast.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This is the attitude Big Blue will need to compete in the later part of this season. They know they will be facing some very good teams in the near future and certain players will need to step up. The bad taste of losing must resonate through the locker room and fuel this team to at least five victories. If they finish the regular season at 10-6, then they may still have a shot at the playoffs. That is the reality plain and simple.

The season is not over yet and anything can happen. The Giants will need to take one step at a time and concentrate on their November 22nd game against Atlanta. Winning that game would be the first step and make things interesting at the top of the NFC East. Having Dallas and Philadelphia lose in week 10 would be a help as well. The Cowboys face the Packers and the Eagles play San Diego.

The Giants have a tough road ahead of them but I believe they will make the playoffs again this year. Getting some of the injured players back into the mix will help. Building confidence week by week as they win games will also help. Each player must focus on his job and responsibilities and perform. The clock is ticking and the regular season will be over before you know it.

You Are Not a Unique Snowflake: An Open Letter to All of Bleacher Report

Robert Domaine — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:11:41 -0500

This is an open letter to the Bleacher Report community, owners, and employees.

My name is Robert Domaine. I have been a member of Bleacher Report for just under six months. I am a former employee of CBS Sports and have worked in the entertainment industry for most of my adult life in one aspect or another.

Some of you know me personally and some of you have become my friends through our work here together on Bleacher Report.

What I loved most about B/R was the free and open forum members had to exchange thoughts and ideas about sports. Make no mistake—we are all here for the sports talk.

On Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, I sent out private messages to well over 100 members explaining an issue I have with Bleacher Report.

Those of you (50-plus) who replied and exchanged personal e-mail addresses with me have been feeling what I have been feeling.

Something is wrong here at Bleacher Report. Things have changed for the worse, and it seems like nobody is listening to us. Well, I am listening to you, and I will be your voice here and now.

First, my issue with Bleacher Report:

If you take a look at my homepage, you will see that I am a very active member of the community.

You will also see that I haven’t written much for the past month or so. I am a Senior Writer who has written 57 articles, or just about one story every 72 hours since joining the site.

You will see that I have 535 fans and over 1,500 comments. You will see that I have an article of the day (AOTD) and that I am a ranked Superstar with CBS Sports.

I have adhered to the core values preached by Bleacher Report and have encouraged countless writers to write from the heart and do their best.

I have been in contact with the B/R office for over three months requesting a syndication status.

I have called the office and talked to community coordinators such as Dave Morrison as well as having e-mail correspondence with Editor-in-Chief Joe Yanarella and Assignment Desk Editor Rory Brown.

I have saved every single e-mail with B/R since joining the site. I have been denied everything I have requested, including being a NY Giants Community Leader, Featured Columnist, and NFL Correspondent.

Now, I am a big boy, and I can take rejection. My skin has been made thick by all of the years in the entertainment industry working alongside teamsters, grips, set electricians, and—the most vicious of all—producers.

This isn’t some rant about how I deserve something or feel I am owed something. If I didn’t make the cut, then I didn’t make the cut; such is life.

What I do have a problem with is the fact that I have been denied syndication status here on Bleacher Report.

Let me explain, as some of you may not know what I have been told. If you do not have the syndication status, then your articles will not make the top rotation of your favorite team’s homepage here on B/R.

That means all of the friends/fans that I have made here on B/R will not get to see my work and would not even know I have written anything new, without visiting my homepage.

My purpose here is to write for Bleacher Report and not to gain exposure from outside sites. As I have said, I am already a ranked Superstar with CBS Sports and do not need them to do anything for me.

However, I most certainly have earned the right to have my work read on Bleacher Report. I was told that I do not write consistent quality articles and my syndication status has been denied. Denied no less than eight times from my count over the months.

I was told that my articles are not good enough to be placed on the NY Giants team homepage of Bleacher Report.

I was told that all of my networking, cultivation, and nurturing of my homepage and the community means nothing unless some “office guy” deems me worthy of his approval.

Consistent quality articles—let’s take a look at that for a moment.

I don’t have to tell any of you about the dozens of members here on B/R who have written “one” article and enjoy that status.

Apparently, the first contradiction lies in the word consistent. There are members who have been here for less than a week who have the syndication status—again, another contradiction to the consistency issue.

Quality articles. I have an Article of the Day. I’d say that is the highest level of quality a story can have on B/R, based on popularity within the community. This site is about the community; if I am mistaken, please let me know.

We have all seen new members write about a team they have absolutely no knowledge about, and even they enjoy the status. It begs the question, how can a Senior Writer not have his work in rotation on the very same site?

My work is embraced by most within this family of writers, and if not for your feedback on my work, I would not even be writing this final article.

You see, the problem does not lie with me. The problem does not lie within any of you. The problem is the person making the choices of who is worthy and who is not.

That is the person responsible for the mass exodus that has been occurring. Let me be clear, I am writing this because I am not sure if the owners of Bleacher Report are aware of the state of their site under the management of these mid-level employees.

I have seen many talented writers leave this site due to mistreatment. I have found the employees completely unhelpful in my efforts to be heard.

Somebody is playing God, and they should be fired, because for every solid writer who leaves Bleacher Report, you have two new writers join who will write one article or comment and never return.

The heart and soul of B/R is leaving this site from within, and not by their own accord. They are being driven out by the lack of respect and courtesy they should have already earned.

I cannot tell you how many members have said they just don’t care about B/R anymore. So I implore the owners to look into what I am saying and check it out for themselves.

You are not a unique snowflake. Look for yourselves, B/R community members. Take a look at the archives of the NFL section or your favorite team.

Scroll down and look at the reads your work gets here on B/R. Go to any archive area and look at the fruits of your labor.

I think you will notice that only selected writers are getting their work into rotation and getting reads. The imbalance is appalling and shameful considering you are the backbone of this entire company.

We joined this site because they made it for the fans, but it has turned into something ugly that we cannot in good conscience ignore any longer.

Now they will talk of algorithms and an automatic story rotation, but it is a lie. Prove me wrong. The truth is the system isn’t flawed—it has failed.

I truly feel for all of you that have put your heart and soul into this site just as I have, only to be discarded and told you’re not good enough for the almighty Bleacher Report.

I will applaud your efforts if they won’t or cannot see that everyone here isn’t the same cookie-cutter writer. Thank God for that, and thank God for all of you with your own opinions and thoughts.

They will say that you are not a unique snowflake even though you are. You are NOT some robotic machine spewing out the same old rhetoric to please a man whose idea of a good story is “The 20 Hottest Sports Movie Babes.”

Don’t let them change who you are. Improvements in writing are always welcome, but don’t let them change you from the inside. There is nothing wrong with you.

I am sure this article will not last long on the site because there is too much truth in it. If they delete this heartfelt story, it is just another confirmation that they will do what they want, when they want, without regard to the community.

They may even delete my account altogether. You are all writing in a controlled matrix now and waiting for something to happen that they will not allow. People need to be fired over this.

We have enough trouble in this world with the horrible economy, two wars, a pandemic virus, and a complete collapse of morals and values without worrying about what some insignificant man thinks of our writing.

They have taken the one thing that we love and find peace in and turned it into a hostile popularity contest. So speak up and let your voice be heard without fear.

By the time you’re done reading this, you will be asking yourself, especially if you're one of those people getting 30 reads per article for your hard work, why am I still supporting these people who do not care about me or what I stand for?

It is a shame that nobody would listen to what I had to say. You know who you are within the company and you know what you did. I can only hope that the owners weren’t aware of these issues and they address those responsible, swiftly and harshly.

To the owners, I have well over 50 private e-mails I can forward to you from quality members who feel exactly like I do. Disrespected, insulted, and underappreciated.

You can take this story as phase one of a non-violent, methodical plan, and we will call phase one diplomacy. I implore you to consider what I am saying before you lose your affiliates, investors, sponsors, and, worst of all, reputation.

This is your final opportunity to make good on what you preach in your core values and show the B/R community that you are man enough to accept a mistake and sit down at the table to discuss improvements.

I think you would be surprised to learn that the community knows more about what makes this site successful then you could imagine. After all, we are the ones who have made you rich. Do the right thing.

I will close by asking Joe Yanarella or Rory Brown—or whoever it is (since they chose to remain anonymous behind the “review board” title) that has taken it upon themselves to play God and ruin the heart and soul of this once-beloved site made for the fans by fans—one last question:

Is this a quality article?

Giants Injury List Grows, Boley Out a Month

Robert Domaine — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:29:57 -0400

What is going on in New York? The New York Giants added a new name to the growing list of injured players today with news of LB Michael Boley having surgery and expected to miss a month of playing time.

This is a very disturbing trend. I am having difficulty remembering a year when Big Blue has had this many injuries.

I do not mean to sound negative. I am simply stating the reality of where the team is right now.

They improved their record to 4-0 after beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, 27-16. But many wonder how long the party can continue with all of the talent being lost to the injury bug.

Tom Coughlin must be racking his brain over what to do at this point.

Let's take a look at the players who have already been ruled out for the year and placed on the dreaded "Injured Reserve" list.

Clearly, the most devastating loss to date is S Kenny Phillips who suffered a left knee injury. Phillips is a young, promising safety who has been compared to Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens. That is a very big compliment to any young player trying to make a name for themselves.

Rookie RB Andre Brown is another promising young player who had his season end abruptly by rupturing his Achilles tendon.

Veteran DT Jay Alford was lost for the year after he tore his MCL. Alford is best known for his ability to slash through the line and get to the QB.

T Andrew Carnahan is out for the year and rookie CB Stoney Woodson was cut from the team shortly following his injury.

CB Aaron Ross has yet to play a game this season due to a nagging hamstring injury. Reports are coming out about his frustration with the rehab process and his ability to get back in the football "mood" this year.

RB Danny Ware has missed three games with an elbow injury and there has been no word about his return as of yet.

WR Dominek Hixon has missed two games with a right knee injury and the G-men hope to get him back soon. Rookie WR Hakeem Nicks just returned to action this Sunday and scored his first TD after missing two games.

Rookie LB Clint Sintim has yet to see action over a groin injury. This is one of the most promising players the Giants drafted this year and I look forward to seeing him get on the field.

Newly acquired DE Chris Canty has missed three games with a calf injury.

LB Michael Boley was suspended for the first game of the season, played in three games and now will miss a month after having surgery on his right knee.

Rookie WR Ramses Barden has missed two games this year with assorted injuries.

OT Adam Koets and OT Guy Whimper both missed last weeks game against KC and have missed playing time throughout the year.

LB Bryan Kehl suffered a fractured left finger on Sunday and had surgery today to repair it. He is listed as week to week currently.

CB Kevin Dockery recently returned after missing three games with a hamstring injury. This is a bright spot in the darkness so far.

Besides the players listed above, there are a number of players who are playing despite their injuries.

The guys playing through the pain include DE Justin Tuck with a shoulder injury, OL Kareem McKenzie with a right knee issue, OL Rich Seubert with a shoulder issue, RB Ahmad Bradshaw has an ankle issue that has bothered him all season since training camp. TE Kevin Boss got banged up in the KC game with what seemed to be a leg injury.

And the cherry on top of this sundae of horror is the recent heel injury to All-Pro QB Eli Manning. Doctors have said that Manning can play in the games, if he can stand the pain.

This is not good.

I have confidence in Easy Eli and I'm sure he will play on Sunday but this is not good news at all. Losing Manning would be devastating to the season.

Still, the Giants are riding a four game winning streak and are considered the No. 1 team in the NFL on most ranking systems. You have to wonder when this team will get fully healthy and be able to outperform an already outstanding performance to start the year.

At full strength, this team might be unbeatable.

The Giants play the Oakland Raiders this Sunday at Giants Stadium at 1 p.m. EST.

I expect another win despite the grocery list of injuries listed above.

Final Score Prediction - Giants 24 - Raiders 9

B/R's Push To Get George Martin a Key to New York City

Robert Domaine — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:10:08 -0400

This is the follow-up story to one of the most successful articles in B/R history called “NY Giants’ George Martin: The Forgotten Hero.”

The readers truly showed their support for an incredible gesture made by former (and lifelong) New York Giant George Martin. His journey last summer took place for the first responders of the 9-11 tragedy. Our efforts here are to let this man's story be heard and for him to receive the proper recognition his action deserves. We all agree, a key to NYC is the least we can do.

As this summer comes to an end, let us look back to last summer and what George Martin did for his beloved New York. He walked across the entire country, New York to San Diego on foot (3,023 miles) and raised $2 million. He went threw 25 pairs of shoes and lost 40 pounds.

Please follow the link to the original story, at the top of the page. I encourage new readers to check out the original story to get a better picture of what we are doing here today. I thank you in advance.

This will serve as an update on actions taken to get the story in the right hands. Even some confirmation of Martin not wanting the award, or if it was ever offered? These are the things I ask myself. Some B/R members have said they will pursue this on their own. Only helping the effort to get Martin some respect for his selfless act.

I want to use strange and enticing words and titles to say this is our battle cry as fans to demand something more be done for Mr. Martin. A small victory or a sloth corrected, in a world that has gone completely mad. But the truth is this is an easy choice for most to make, and it is simply the right thing to do. I hope we can continue this effort, having it end only when the goal is achieved.

Since the original story was written, we have learned that Martin will be doing another walk on Sept. 13, 2009, from the George Washington Bridge to Giants Stadium. It is a 13-mile walk and a small donation is appreciated. Anyone can join Martin on this walk to help the 9-11 responders. Martin was a guest at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night, Aug. 26 (thanks, Phil), promoting his new event. Talk about good timing on a story.

For information on participating in the walk on 9-13-09 call 877-925-5911 or 877-WALK-911. They request a $35 registration fee, which obviously goes to the 9-11 first responders. Walkers can meet in Fort Lee, N.J., at 9 a.m. EST near the George Washington Bridge. Arrive where the bridge and Henry Hudson Drive meet.

Wouldn't it be fitting if New Jersey stepped up and gave Big George a key to the city from somewhere in the state? Maybe his hometown or something, if New York won't give him one. Could you imagine him finishing his walk to Giants Stadium and having New Jersey there waiting for him with a key?

At the end of this article, I will list the names of the writers who commented on “NY Giants’ George Martin: The Forgotten Hero” and showed their support. Without any of you, none of this would be possible.

I would like this to serve as “home base” for all updates on this story in the comment area. I will kick it off with some updates I have done myself and people I have sent the story to. It is best to use the “single page” option for viewing this story.

Also, list what you have done personally to help the cause. Simply commenting shows your support. Some have decided to go beyond that, and I want them to be recognized as well. Please leave the following phrase in the comment area here to voice your support.

"GIVE GEORGE MARTIN A KEY TO NYC!"

Here is the list of writers who showed their support by commenting on the original article. They are in no particular order but basically follow the order in which the comment was received. I will continue to edit/update this list with all of the new people that leave a comment in support of the story.

Thank you all again. The following list is current as of Aug. 31, 2009.

David Rondon
Craig Santucci
Junkyard Jake
Rich Perez
Lace Banachek
Mike Kent
Saulo Padua
Matt Bertram
JW Nix
Josh Berman
Tom Highway
Bill
The Beeze
Jakob Thais
Chris Farmer
Jack Anderson
Kendrick Davis
Brian Fitzsimmons
Richard Marsh
Rocky Getters
Mack Dreyfuss
Ann Gry
Donna Cavanagh
Marry Jo Buchanan
Sudeshna Banerjee
David Wyatt
Richard O’Neal
Mark Houlne
John Chisholm
Mr. Controversy
Joe Tedesco
Glenn Card
Ron Tepper
Steve Chott
E.T.
AJ Cusimano
Nick Adamo
Taylor Rummel
Dan Rice
Louis Pisano
Stoker Mac
Shane H.
Jennifer Johnson
Nick Klopsis
Andrew Nuschler
Adam Biggers
bob bob
rmonsta
Jonathan Stilwell
Joe Jones
Thomas Moreland
Shady Botros
DJ
Clay Cunningham
Dena
Marc Halsted
Cindy Bowling
Janet Kessler
S.M. Napier
Eric Annett
Jill T.
Gabriel Taylor
Rain Man
Sean Bafaro
Dominica
Leroy Watson
Cedrick Morrison
Robert Gardener
James E. King III
Rich Span
Wendy Adair
Adam Bouton
Lance LeQue
Jesse Motiff
Emma
Angie Lewis
Italyun Stallyun
Matt Gilmartin
Steve Tater
Nick Kappel
Scott Eisenlohr
M.T. Robinson
James Williamson
Kevin Williams
Tyree Reids
Jeff Shull
Austin Penny
Scott Henry
Jesse Lombardo
John Boller
David T.
TR
Tony Ambrosini
Jake Cole
Sean Gagnier
Matthew Beck
Peter Schiller
Cheryl Conley
Manny McLoving
Nikki Hecht
Andy Purvis
Richard Keenam
Tom Richards
Tara Makowski
J.C. Ayvazi
Damali Binta Yael
Teddy Mitrosilis
Tyler Spence
Emmett Shaffer
Ray Tannock
Lou Cappetta
Zach Zaremba
Tommy G.
Nick Burger
Tennismasta1
J.A. Allen
Ed Sheahin
Tom Edrington
Anthony Pascual
Jeffrey Fann
Ross Maghielse
Russell McKenzie
John McCurdy
Dan Peterson
T. Collette
Josh Rosenberg
Dan Kelley
Rob York
Zachary Habner
Rick Desotell
Scott Hastie
Garry Voltaire
Ken Moyes
Jeff Little
Jim McCurdy
Gerald Laskowski
Eric J.
Lamar Bolton
Michael Malcolm
Kris Jackson
Vinny Yeager
Rob Cranch
Phil Kohen
Justin Crawford
Brittany Baker
Steven Loia
Michael Dezso
Angel Melendez
Brittni O’Ryan
D-2-THE-C
Gavin Andrews
Demondre’ Wiley
Cynthia Dowling
Jon Cavanaugh
Amanda Behne
Brian Carson
Hotnuke
Billy Ray
John Azam Azam
Cliff Eastham
Kate Owen
Stove Pipe
John Vukovic
BYU Rugby Forever
Alex Ferguson
Marina Mtz
Doug Rush
Scott Alberts
Jake D'Agostino
Brian Wagner
James Southerton
Sean Couch
Jo-Ryan Salazar
Jason John
Nathaniel Davis
John Boller
Eric Annett
Jay King
Maria Garcia
Brett Stott
Sean Baca
Dan Kelley
Anthony Emerson
Southern Man
Dan Smith
Jersey Al Bracco

Final Diagnosis: The Giants vs. Bears Preseason Game

Robert Domaine — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:32:49 -0400

New York Giants' Story

August 25, 2009

Final Diagnosis: Giants vs. Bears

Like I said in my LIVE game blog, I don’t even know where to start.

The Giants lost their 2nd preseason game to the Bears, 17-3, at Soldier Field. I began speculating that Coach Coughlin had a variety of players in the mix to assess performance.

Let me rephrase that: More than the usual number of players blending in. This simply was not the same team which played and beat the Panthers last Monday night.

Let’s begin with the sloppy play.

Both teams were penalized so many times I actually lost count—I had to check the game center for the final number. Combined, that number was 19. The G-men had eight penalties for 78 Yards, and the Bears had 11 for 73 yards. Horrible to watch. On the sidelines, Coughlin looked like a rocket about to take off.

Now, let’s talk about the sacks allowed by Big Blue.

They have allowed a total of 10 sacks in the first two preseason games—split at five per game. I didn’t see it coming.

Rookie William Beatty looked good, but this line hasn’t; that’s a lot of sacks to give up. Hopefully, this group will tighten up before the regular season. Depth will certainly be addressed in next year's draft, possibly with two high picks.

The Bears' offense put up 372 total yards against the Giants defense; I was in shock.

Jay Cutler was outstanding and gets my game ball, throwing for 121 yards and a TD. Matt Forte was running all over the place.

So what happened to the dominating defense? What the hell was going on?

I was getting mad until the first turnover. They ended up with two more forced fumbles, bringing their total to eight—that’s a four FF per game average. However, Big Blue was missing four defensive starters.

Then there were the injuries to LB Danny Clark and DL Jay Alford.

Of the two, Alford was the worst off, suffering a torn MCL and sprained ACL. He may be lost for the season. Danny Clark reportedly received some stitches and will be fine.

Match this with LB Michael Boley suspended and injured for the first game, Chris Canty having some trouble, Aaron Ross having leg issues, Fred Robbins' recent surgery, and you start to worry.

At this moment, I’m concerned, but not panicking; the upcoming game against the New York Jets will tip me one way or the other.

The Giants also lost the Time of Possession game by 78 seconds—a big difference compared to their domination of the Carolina Panthers by almost 10 minutes in the first game this year.

Special teams still needs some work.

K Tynes hit a 42 yard FG for the team's only score. He has redeemed last week's miss and is back to zero; the Giants need him to make those kicks and get those crucial points. We can’t afford to throw them away.

I like Manningham as the returner for Big Blue, but I think he could end up starting at WR this year. He has been impressive and I hope he continues on this upward path. Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware again had great games each.

We still need to see more from the WR group—it’s getting clearer, but as yet there is no true three WR set.

Things I didn’t like about the game:

Too many penalties (8-78)
Too many sacks allowed (5)
Special teams needs improvement.
Two injured players (Alford,Clark)
Backup QB’s play
Defense giving up 372 total yards.

The areas that need improvement this week are.

Offensive Line
Wide Receivers
Special Teams

The next preseason game will be the New York Giants vs. the New York Jets, this Saturday 8-29-09 at 8 PM EST. The Giants will be playing at home for the game.

New York Giants: Ground & Pound and the Ground Zero Defense

Robert Domaine — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:19:52 -0400

On the eve of the Giants second preseason game against the Chicago Bears, I would like to share a couple of my ideas for the new nicknames for Big Blue. I will list them both with a brief explanation.

But first there is a game to play, as the G-men travel to Chicago on Saturday for a battle with a good team. The game will be aired at 8PM EST.

They have a pretty good QB in Chicago now, if you haven’t heard; Jay Cutler. The Bears seem to share the same level of competition at the WR spot. So once again, the Giants defense will probably win this game.

How our offense performs depends on the Bears defense. Things could spiral out of control for the Bears in this game quickly. They had a top three defense not so long ago.

The Ground Zero Defense—2009 New York Giants defense

I would like to introduce everyone to the two brand new nicknames I have made for the G-men. I think both of them are fitting. Feel free to leave your opinions below in the comment area.

I was a bit torn about using the name Ground Zero relating to the Giants stellar defense. Then I couldn’t get it out of my head, and now it just seems to fit this group of players.

There is not any disrespect intended. Never forget.

Ground & Pound—The RB tandem of Brandon Jacobs & Ahmad Bradshaw

The Ground is Ahmad Bradshaw and the Pound is Brandon Jacobs. I’m sure all of you figured that out on your own already.

Both running backs looked good against the Panthers in their victory on Monday Night Football. Ground & Pound is a term used in MMA to describe dropping your opponent and beating them into submission or knocking them out.

Seems fitting for this dynamic duo. Danny Ware and Allen Patrick are expected to contribute this year as well. Both looked good in the first preseason game.

I will be keeping a close eye on special teams, and I expect Coach Coughlin will be as well. K Tynes will be under a microscope this weekend. I hope he can step up and perform under the pressure he must be feeling.

QB Andre Woodson needs to have a better game. The WR’s need to get more involved in this game with more playing time. Ramses Barden & Hakeem Nicks need as much playing time as they can get in their rookie year. We also need to see more of WR's Moss, Manningham, and Hixon.

Getting some more plays to the TE group would be nice too. I expect another good game from both Danny Ware & Allen Patrick as well.

Be on the look out for another LIVE UPDATES segment for this away game Giants fans.

My final score prediction is:

New York Giants—31

Chicago Bears—13

Giants Rookie RB Andre Brown Out For 2009 Season

Robert Domaine — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:45:17 -0400

The Giants suffered a blow to their running game yesterday at training camp. Rookie RB Andre Brown ruptured his left Achilles tendon and will miss the entire 2009 season. This is bad news for the G-men, who had hoped Brown could contribute to an already lethal running attack. Team reports state that Brown is expected to have surgery on Tuesday. The report also said it was a "clean play" and there were no dirty hits taken on the young player.

The only good news for Big Blue is the fact that they have some quality RBs on the roster to supplement the loss of Brown. With Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware still on the active roster, the Giants shouldn't miss a beat.

The Giants had the number one running game in the NFL last season and the number three overall running game the previous year. Of course, the team would rather have their rookie healthy and learning the system, but luckily the front office stacked the position well enough to weather the storm.

This should clearly answer the question of who will be the Giants third running back. Barring any free agent pick ups, it seems to be Danny Ware's job to lose. The coaches and team have all had nothing but praise for Ware and most expect a break out season from Ahmad Bradshaw. It will be interesting to see which direction the team goes from here on out. The free agent RB pool seems to be very thin at this point in the year, so close to the regular season. Could we possibly see the return of UFA Reuben Droughns?

The following is a list of unrestricted free agent RBs still out there and available according to NFL com: Reuben Droughns, Rudi Johnson, Deuce McAllister, Michael Pittman, Edgerrin James, Warrick Dunn, Tatum Bell and Deshaun Foster. These are just a few of the more prominent names that are still looking for a team.

The Giants play their first pre-season game this Monday night against the Carolina Panthers at 8 p.m. ET.

Eli Manning Is the $97.5 Million Man in New York

Robert Domaine — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:00:16 -0400

Eli Manning has reportedly signed a new six-year deal worth $97.5 million dollars with $35 million guaranteed. This is yet another smart move by the New York Giants front office and GM Jerry Reese in particular. Securing the franchise quarterback was a hot topic of discussion during the off-season. Many speculated that Manning would receive $100 million dollars. He totaled just below that figure but it is still enough to make him the highest-paid QB in the league, earning even more then his brother Peyton.

What do the Giants get for their money? How about a Superbowl MVP and Pro Bowler who also happens to be on the ironman list with 71 consecutive starts. Not to mention the fact that Manning has brought the team to the playoffs every single year since taking over the full-time starter role. Not many quarterbacks can say that. He enjoyed a career year last year and continues to get better with each season.

He has also been the face of the franchise and a good one at that. His calm demeanor with the ravenous New York media is legendary. Manning is a guy you want running your team and representing the new York franchise in the media, no question about it. Not to mention the fact that he comes from football quarterback royalty with the Manning name, often referred to as the First Family of Quarterbacks in the NFL.

The Giants front office has made no bones about telling Easy Eli that they expect him to take this team on his shoulders and run with it. Something Manning reportedly replied to by saying, "No problem." The team knows they have a young crop of wide receivers and the only one who can truly help in their progression is Manning. Long gone are Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday, truly a wound to my heart personally.

I do not expect this signing to change Manning at all. I'm sure he is very happy that it got done, but with his personality, you won't notice much of a difference in anything he does. Easy Eli will continue with his work as he always does, continuously looking to improve his game and help the team.

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks Agrees To Deal, Will Be at Camp

Robert Domaine — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:33:54 -0400

New York Giants Breaking News

August 1, 2009

New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks has agreed to a deal and is expected to sign a contract sometime today. This means the G-men will arrive at camp with all of their draft picks signed. This is wonderful news for the Giants fans who had a bit of concern that this would drag on. It is also great news for the coaches and the players, as they will now be able to go to work together as a team.

Personally, I am very glad this young man made the move to get into camp. As many have speculated, the agent could have been the reason this was dragged out so long. We will never know, but if so, I am glad Nicks put his foot down and got something done today.

There had been a flurry of first-round picks signed yesterday all over the NFL. Some of the bigger names like Brian Orakpo received multi-million dollar contracts over five years. Now we can all sit back and relax. Breathe guys, it's okay. It is time to focus on performance on the field and the battle to see who will make the final roster.

On another note, Safety Steve Cargile was cut by the Giants today.

NY Giants' George Martin: The Forgotten Hero

Robert Domaine — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:06:01 -0400

New York Giants' Story

July 26, 2009

I am going to express my feelings about something very important to me; something that has been overlooked and under appreciated. I can only hope that the powers that be (Mayor Bloomberg), read this article at some point and make good on something I feel is long overdue.

George Martin being recognized for the amazing act of love he showed the people of New York, by his selfless gesture of walking across the country to raise money for the first responders to the 9/11 tragedy. Here we have a man's man, who decided to stand up and take action for something he believed in by literally putting his best foot forward. At this point, even if George Martin doesn't want the accolades, they should be offered publicly.

We could all learn a lesson from a true American like Mr. Martin, who carries himself with that old school swagger and class that is sadly missing from most of today's athletes.

His goal was to raise $10 million dollars for those in need of medical care, resulting from trying to save others during 9/11. The journey began at the George Washington Bridge in New York on September 16, 2007 and would end in San Diego on June 21, 2008.

That's 3,020 miles he walked over a 9 month period, give or take a few days. He also went through 25 pairs of shoes and lost 40 pounds.

How many athletes do you think would do that in today's culture? No offense to George, but he wasn't a spring chicken when he did this, either. He ended up raising $2 million dollars for those in need, missing the mark he set, but still contributing to the cause.

That $2 million dollars would also be matched by area hospitals in the form of medical services. May God bless him for that.

He is a True Giant, who after being drafted by the G-men in the 11th round of the 1975 NFL draft, played his entire career with Big Blue, ending in 1988. He missed only six games during his entire 14 year career and went to work without complaining.

He continues to do charitable work to this day, a Superbowl Champion who played on one of the best NFL teams in History, the 1986 New York Giants.

During these hard times and all the different accolades bestowed upon our so called sports "heroes," George was overlooked for his gesture and I'm not having it!

I saw Brett Favre come into New York and be put on a pedestal by Mayor Bloomberg, giving him a Broadway sign amongst much media fan fare.

I saw Terrell Owens go to Buffalo and be given a key to the city by the Mayor and I'm thinking to myself, what the hell is wrong with this picture?

I have nothing against Brett Favre or Terrell Owens, as none of these events were their doing, but I do have a problem with a real hero like George Martin not being recognized in the same fashion for doing something so much more important than getting off an airplane.

And that is why I am sending out this message to all of the Giants fans, New York fans and really, any sports fan in general: to make some noise and get George Martin a Key to New York City.

The media's insulting radar blip on this topic is shameful, and something that should be corrected. So leave your thoughts in the comment area and let's get Big George the respect he deserves for his sacrifice for the people of New York and all the other men and women from around the country who showed up to help.

They are the real heroes.

I would like to personally say thank you George, you are not forgotten.

Steve McNair: When The Music Stops

Robert Domaine — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:17:11 -0400

Special Report

July 5, 2009

I am not going to jabber on with this article but I couldn't just let this pass without a word. I simply wanted to say that my thoughts and prayers are with Steve McNair's family.

I wanted to wait until today to write something because we didn't know much about the situation yesterday and websites were flooded with article after article on this story. As it turns out, there was a possible murder-suicide by gun with McNair and a 20-year-old woman he had been dating for a few months named Sahel Kazemi.

Additional bits of information continue to come out today about this tragic event that took place in a Nashville condo McNair had been renting.

One thing that is for sure is how much McNair was loved by the fans and Tennessee fans in particular. We must now endure yet another loss to the human race. The past month has seen a flurry of stars pass away including Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Karl Malden, Ed McMahon, David Carradine and Alexis Arguello, just to name a few.

NFL players and former team mates spoke to reporters yesterday about their affection for Steve McNair and Ravens LB Ray Lewis is said to be inconsolable.

Steve McNair was known for his toughness and his leadership. Even though I am a New York Giants fan, I had to respect what the man with the big smile could do on the field. He played through pain and lead his Titans to the Super Bowl for the very first time.

He was also a three-time pro bowler. Retiring his No. 9 in Tennessee would seem a fitting tribute. Although minimal to the loss itself, it is still a way of keeping his memory alive.

This is a tragedy and I hope the family can gain some closure, but I just don't know how when something this sudden and tragic occurs. There are no words I can say and no action I can do to make this go away.

Our support is needed now to keep the family strong through this sad ordeal. May his passing serve as a reminder to us all, to live our lives to the fullest with the time we have here on Earth.

Some say, the love that we withhold in this life, is the pain we take with us into the next. If that is true, then McNair is smiling in heaven right now.

R.I.P. - Steve McNair 07-04-09

Giants Make Roster Moves, LB Boley Has Surgery

Robert Domaine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:14:27 -0400

New York Giants Breaking News

June 24, 2009

The Giants continued to make their roster adjustments today by signing rookie WR Ramses Barden and rookie QB Rhett Bomar. Conditions of their contracts were not disclosed. The G-men are expecting a lot from their rookie pickups at WR. Ramses Barden is an intriguing prospect at 6'6" and should battle for a starting position during training camp. By the way, look at Barden's hands in the story photo above, are those hands or 2 frying pans? I'm excited for this kid this year.

The signing of Rhett Bomar could mean the end of days for QB Andre Woodson in New York, as was talked about in my last article New York Giants: Methodical Addition and Subtraction. The other QB fighting for a backup role is David Carr. Seeing how the Giants will most likely go with experience at the backup position, it seems Carr is safe for now.

The Giants released veteran TE George Wrightster and OL Mike Fladell in other moves made on Wednesday. It is clearly starting to get down to the nitty gritty and the team is beginning to take shape before our eyes. The TE group is deep so this doesn't come as a surprise to me at all.

One more bit of news from the Giants camp. New LB Michael Boley had hip surgery and is expected to miss 8-10 weeks while recovering. This news came out of nowhere and has to be bad news for the team, as they were expecting him to take over the starting OLB duties.

There is nothing saying he won't be ready for the start of the season, but this certainly isn't a good way to start your first year with a new team. I'm sure the Giants nation wishes Boley a speedy recovery, as do I.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.

New York Giants: Methodical Addition and Subtraction

Robert Domaine — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:40:06 -0400

New York Giants Report

June 21, 2009

In this article, we'll take a look at some of the possible upcoming moves by the G-Men. But first, let's look at some of the changes already made by the front office this year.

In recent news, the New York Giants seem to have taken care of the DB situation in one clean swoop by signing both rookie CBs Stoney Woodson and DeAndre Wright (Wright reportedly getting a four-year deal), to deals and cutting CB Rashad Barksdale within a two-day period (June 19 and June 20). They also terminated the contracts of CB Sam Madison and S Sammy Knight this year. They bolstered the group by signing S C.C. Brown from free agency. Look for CB Aaron Ross and S Kenny Phillips to have exceptional seasons.

They addressed the WR situation in the 2009 NFL Draft by grabbing Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden. They might not be done getting WRs either. There happen to be a lot of big name receivers out there (Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards, Brandon Marshall) looking for new homes. This has been the most intriguing topic for most of the off season in Giants circles, after losing both Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer this year.

They also addressed the TE group by picking up free agent TE Lee Vickers and drafting TE Travis Beckum in the 2009 NFL Draft. Starting TE Kevin Boss could have a breakout year this season. TE George Wrightster was signed on May 9. TE Martrez Milner was cut from the team on May 21.

The Giants lost RB Derrick Ward to Tampa Bay and addressed that by drafting RB Andre Brown (potential steal-of-the-draft candidate). Ahmad Bradshaw should do well in taking over for the departed Ward. FB Madison Hedgecock is a beast. RB Reuben Droughens' contract was terminated this year. So put a check mark on the NFL's best running game last season.

You know what they say, if it ain't broke, then don’t fix it!

But they never mention anything about building an addition to something already working, in order to improve upon it. That is exactly what Big Blue did with the defensive line. New arrivals Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard should blend right in with Pro Bowlers Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, making a lethal front four. Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Jay Alford have been a force since joining the Giants as well. DT Dwayne Hendricks was waived on June 18. This might be the best group in the NFL.

The LB Corps got some new talent as well by picking up LB Michael Boley via free agency and the extremely talented LB Clint Sintim via the 2009 NFL Draft. This group might lose a player before the season starts. They will be great this season lead by LB Antonio Pierce.

The Giants have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with Pro Bowl players on it. Nothing else needs to be said about this outstanding group. Veteran OL Tutan Reyes was singed on May 21 for depth and OL William Beatty was picked up in the 2009 NFL Draft.

The Giants have the best all-time Punter in Jeff Feagles and kicker Lawrence Tynes helped get Big Blue to Superbowl XLII. The special teams play has been improving year by year. Feagles and recently departed Giants kicker John Carney both made the Pro Bowl in 2009.

The coaching staff is in place and ready to rumble.

The Next Order of Business

The QB group will be the next area addressed in my opinion. Giants fans should hear something soon about the choices they make for the backup to Iron Man QB Eli Manning (71 consecutive starts), the unquestionable starter. Most seem to think QB David Carr is a lock to be the primary backup. I agree this most likely will happen, but could he also be used as trade bait for a WR?

The Giants shocked a lot of people by drafting QB Rhett Bomar in the 2009 NFL Draft. He will most likely be safe with the team as well. Which leads us to second-year QB Andre Woodson. Woodson is the most likely candidate to be set free unless a trade gets done with Carr. Woodson seems to be the odd man out staring at the experience of Carr and the potential of Bomar.

Following or prior to the QB situation being handled, I believe the Giants will also most likely drop someone from the defensive line, which is truly overcrowded with quality talent. Hopefully, it isn’t Cofield, Robbins, or Alford. Most likely, it won't be. There are other players on the team with far less experience then they have. I won't speculate on potential names here. The Giants have put together a very deep and solid team.

The good thing about having such a deep team is that your starters are all mostly established and you're really only focusing on depth at this point. This is a luxury most teams do not have. Now, I'm sure there are areas of concern for Coach Tom Coughlin but nothing compared to some of the other teams out there.

After a couple more releases, I think the Giants will have a good idea of who will be on the team. Training camp will surely come as a shock to the rookies. Hopefully, they will be able to handle it. After the roster moves are complete, the next step is too see who falls into place and where. The position battles are about to begin. Are you ready for it?

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season, along with more articles on everything New York Giants.

UK Lumps Up USA: The Ultimate Fighter Finale LIVE Results

Robert Domaine — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:45:40 -0400

The Ultimate Fighter Finale - USA vs UK

June 20, 2009

Everything below is from my LIVE fight update for the TUF fight night on 6-20-09. You can check those out and comment as you wish. Team UK wins the battle at the end of the day and DeMarques Johnson gets manhandled by James Wilks, as the only team USA representative on the card fighting for a contract. Team UK member Ross Pearson won the other contract. Diego Sanchez vs Clay Guida gets the fight of the night vote and a fight of the year vote as well. All in all, I would say the TUF 9 Finale was a great event and worth watching.

Team UK won the show and the finale but Michael Bisping will have his hands full dealing with Dan Henderson at UFC 100. The Coach fight is usually the crown jewel of the show and might be team USA's biggest win of the season.

Hello UFC fans! I will be doing LIVE UPDATES during the fights tonight for all of you who are unable to watch it on TV. We are about 90 minutes away from the beginning of the show, brought to you for FREE tonight at 9PM on Spike TV. You can also watch it for FREE at UFC com.

Spike TV has been running the The Ultimate Fighter USA vs UK marathon all day leading up to the big LIVE show. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg keep coming in LIVE from Nevada during the commercials to pump up the fans. The TUF Coaches, Michael "The Count" Bisping and Dan Henderson will meet in the cage for UFC 100 on July 11, 2009.

The fights have been made and the joint has been cleaned up for a brawl tonight. Headlining the card is The Ultimate Fighter 1 Champion, Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez vs Clay "The Carpenter" Guida.

This should prove to be a good fight between two very tough guys. I will list the entire card below for all to see and you can make your picks in the comment section if you want to put it out there.

You can find the winners listed below and the LIVE coverage in the comment section.

155 pounds: Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida

WINNER: Diego Sanchez - Split Decision

170 pounds: DaMarques Johnson vs. James Wilks

WINNER: James Wilks - Round 1 Choke Tap Out

170 pounds: Chris Lytle vs. Kevin Burns

WINNER: Chris Lytle - Unanimous Decision

155 pounds: Ross Pearson vs. Andre Winner

WINNER: Ross Pearson - Unanimous Decision

155 pounds: Joe Stevenson vs. Nate Diaz

WINNER: Joe Stevenson - Unanimous Decision

155 pounds: Melvin Guillard vs. Gleison Tibau

WINNER: Melvin Guillard - Split Decision

170 pounds: Brad Blackburn vs. Edgar Garcia

WINNER: Brad Blackburn - Split Decision

170 pounds: Nick Osipczak vs. Frank Lester

WINNER: Nick Osipczak - Round 1 Rear Naked Choke

155 pounds: Jason Dent vs. Cameron Dollar

WINNER: Jason Dent - Round 1 Choke Tap Out

Heavyweight: Mike Clesnolevicz vs. Tomasz Drwal

WINNER: Tomasz Dwarl - Round 1 Stoppage Knee

*Post Fight - Clearly the fight of the night was the main event between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida. Both of these guys showed tremendous heart and gave this bloody brawl their all. Joe Rogan even commented that he wouldn't have been surprised if it were a draw. This fight will be on every list for fights of the year in 2009.

*Post Fight - Chris Lytle vs Kevin Burns was also a very good fight and had been in talks about being the fight of the night until the awesome main event with Sanchez & Guida.

Look for future coverage of UFC 100 in July 2009.

New York Giants Attend Yankee Game

Robert Domaine — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:51:10 -0400

New York Giants Breaking News

June 17, 2009

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin took the team to the New York Yankee game in the Bronx on Wednesday, June 17.

The Yankees are playing the Washington Nationals. Eli Manning was up in the broadcast booth with the guys in the third inning, talking about baseball and when he played when he was younger. You can see the Giants players sitting in the stands with the fans, including Coughlin. It is the top of the third right now and there's no score. More updates to follow.

Eli spoke to the guys in the booth for about 10 minutes and then headed down to watch the game. The cameras panned to all the players and Coughlin watching the game from the stands. They will undoubtedly be doing this all night long. This was a surprise to me, which is rare.

Apparently, Coughlin told the team to get on the bus and that they were going to a Yankee game, surprising the players as well.

In a later sighting, Eli's brother Peyton Manning was also spotted in the stands.

Look for future interviews with Giants players from training camp and the regular season and more articles on everything New York Giants.

New York Giants: Who Will Make the 2010 Pro Bowl?

Robert Domaine — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:30:52 -0400

New York Giants Report

June 15, 2009

I know what you're thinking: No! Please tell me he isn't talking about Pro Bowl predictions in June. Well, yes, that's exactly what I am going to do.

I have some thoughts on who I expect to perform at a Pro-Bowl level this year. If the voters get it correct or not, it doesn't matter because these guys deserve to go to Hawaii. There are some first timers on this list as well as some returning players.

In current Giants news, OTAs have ended and the Giants will hold a mandatory full-squad minicamp this Tuesday, June 16, through Thursday, June 18. Then the veterans are excused until Aug. 2.

Remember, these are just my thoughts, so feel free to add or subtract from this list with your reason why. I believe the Giants will send between six to eight players to the Pro Bowl again this year. The Giants season would have to fall off a cliff for this not to happen.

Coach Tom Coughlin doesn't preach individual accomplishments much in the locker room. He rewards the team as a team and preaches team all the time. But even he must have been very happy to see the amount of players sent last year. It's been a while since Big Blue had such representation in Hawaii.

Before I start, some of you will immediately scream, "Hey, why isn't Eli Manning on this list?" The reason is, I believe Eli will win his second Super Bowl ring this season, but he won't make it to the Pro Bowl. And let me also say I hope I am completely wrong about him not making it to the Pro Bowl.

So let's take a look at what I've come up with for the New York Giants players in the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl.

RB: Brandon Jacobs—Another 1,000-yard season and 10 touchdowns minimum will have to make even the critics take notice. Brandon "The Bull" Jacobs has arrived. If they won't give it to him on their own, Jacobs will take it this year with an incredible performance.

OL: Chris Snee—He should be a mainstay on the Pro-Bowl offensive line for a while. He has proven himself time and time again. Plays with a mean streak.

FB: Madison Hedgecock—This guy should have three or more Pro Bowls in his future if they are bringing in true fullbacks. Hedgecock is a beast.

P: Jeff Feagles—Nobody does it better. He deserves to be there at his position.

DE: Justin Tuck—I look for Osi and Tuck to have a gentleman's bet on each other's performance this year, in the mold of Strahan and Osi. They will push each other into the Pro Bowl.

DE: Osi Umenyiora—See Justin Tuck description. The competition within is the greatest one of all. Osi and Tuck will push each other via friendly competition.

CB: Aaron Ross—I am looking for Aaron Ross to have a very big year. So much so that I am putting it in writing now for all to see. Keep an eye on this young veteran, because he has a bright future ahead of him.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season, along with more articles on everything New York Giants.

UFC 99: Wanderlei Silva Will Knock Out Rich Franklin in Round Three

Robert Domaine — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:29:37 -0400

UFC 99: Wanderlei Silva Will Get The Best Of Franklin

Predictions on the upcoming UFC 99 fights on June 13, 2009.

June 11, 2009

I can still remember watching the first UFC fight in 1993, UFC 1, if you like. I rented it off of Pay-Per-View as sort of a nostalgic event, due to their excellent advertising campaign for the fights.

Truth be told, I was expecting to see the sort of choreographed matches I was used to watching with wrestling. There is nothing wrong with the WWE or anything like that, I still enjoy watching that from time to time but the UFC was nothing like wrestling. I remember sitting in my apartment, very relaxed, ready to watch the first fight. My roommate was out and I had a couple friends coming over, they were late as usual.

The fight starts and I literally jump up off the couch, wide-eyed, not believing what I was seeing. I immediately called my friends, who were at the liquor store picking up beer, and told them to hurry up. We watched all of the fights and then the replay of all the fights. It was the birth of the UFC and we were there for the moment, even if it was only on television.

But the thing I remember most about that night, was watching the sumo wrestler getting his teeth kicked out of his head. Back then, you just didn’t see anything like that on TV. I was hooked, and I have watched just about every major event they have put on, as well as the The Ultimate Fighter TV shows. I can’t believe we are so close to UFC 100 , which will be an incredible event as well.

But for now, let's take a look at the fights for UFC 99: The Comeback, which will be held in Cologne, Germany on June 13, 2009, and I will give you my picks. I am no expert. I’m a UFC fan giving you my picks.

The Main Event: Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva

This is going to be a very good fight, with both men weighing in at 195 pounds. I believe Silva will win by knocking out Franklin in the early minutes of round three. The Axe Murderer's devastating striking will eventually get the best of a very tough Rich Franklin. The only thing I’m not sure of is, whether it be a lucky punch or spectacular punch. Expect both to be pretty bloody after this one, because Ace Franklin’s striking can be just as devastating. This fight will prove worthy of a main event.

Heavyweights: Cheick Kongo vs. Cain Velasquez

Talk about bad luck for Cain Velasquez. After Heath Herring decided to skip this fight over an illness, who comes in as a replacement but the Monster Cheick Kongo? I believe Kongo will win by tap out in round one. Cain is a good fighter, but Kongo is just too strong for Velasquez to deal with on this night.

Heavyweights: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Mostapha Al-turk

A late edition to the UFC 99 card—everything was made official on June 1—is the return of Mirko Cro Cop to the cage. Ironically, MMA veteran Cro Cop’s last fight was a loss to Kongo in 2007 at UFC 75. Nobody has really seen much of him to know what to expect from this fight. Knowing this fight will probably determine the rest of his UFC career, I will go with a Cro Cop victory in round two by an Al-turk tap out.

Welterweights: Mike Swick vs. Ben Saunders

This should be a good fight, but I think Swick's speed will be just too quick for Saunders to handle. I predict a second round flying-knee knockout of Saunders for the Swick victory. It will come out of no where very quickly.

Welterweights: Marcus Davis vs. Dan Hardy

Look for Marcus Davis to knockout Dan Hardy in round one of this fight. The decision to stand his ground and pound with Davis at some point in the fight will prove to be Hardy’s undoing.

Lightweights: Spencer Fisher vs. Caol Uno

I am going to go with Spencer "The King" Fisher for the win in this fight. The veteran will find a way to win by tap out of Uno in the second round. All of Fisher’s fights are important to his career at this point even though he has established himself as a big time fighter. It is just a natural progression I expect him to take advantage of.

I would like to finish by saying: Good luck to all of these guys who fight in the UFC. These men are truly warriors. The greatness of the premise for the The Ultimate Fighter series has worked. Seeing what these guys go through in the gym is just crazy. I saw a video of Silva training with his nose duct taped around his head breathing out of a snorkel in his training regiment. Are you kidding me? Win or lose, these guys have put in the time and work and deserve our respect.

Giant Potential Fulfilled: The Rise Of Aaron Ross

Robert Domaine — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:25:37 -0400

New York Giants Report

June 6, 2009

Isn’t it a beautiful thing, when potential meets opportunity and then performs well.

So is the story of New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross. He was selected in the first round with the 20th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college ball for the tough Texas Longhorns and even won the Jim Thorpe award as the nation's best defensive back in 2006.

Even with that accolade, Ross saw two cornerbacks (Darrelle Revis and Leon Hall) get drafted before him on draft day. Something that must have made the Giants War Room giddy was when he dropped to them at pick 20. They pulled the trigger and Ross has been contributing ever since.

There was no break for Ross as a rookie, who went right to work in the NFL. He was a part of the historic 2007 team, that won Super Bowl XLII by defeating the unbeaten Patriots. So now, he is also a Super Bowl Champion. In 2008, he played well (94 tackles, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions) but the G-men fell short in the playoffs losing to the Eagles.

So what is the next step for Aaron Ross?

The Giants defense should be one of the best in the NFL in 2009. Big Blue has invested a lot of time and money to the front seven. This is something they would not have done unless they had confidence in the current Giants defensive backs. Clearly, the Giants coaches expect big things from this group in the new season. I expect Ross' interception numbers to double this year.

Entering his third year in the NFL, Aaron Ross could end up in the Pro Bowl if he takes the next natural step in his progression and gets some help from his team mates. The program only works if everyone does their job. He is no longer a rookie but an unquestionable starter. He has been to the top of the mountain and won the ring.

I believe Ross is the one defensive back who stands to have a true breakout year in 2009. There will be plenty of bad passes throw by quarterbacks being bent akimbo by the ferocious Giants defense. Nobody stands to benefit from this more then the defensive backs. Opportunity meeting potential. The question is, will he perform?

The answer is: yes!

Since his college days and through his early pro career, No. 31 has had his share of success. But those achievements are in the past and a new season is about to begin. Now is the time to step up and perform in a defense designed to attack the passer. Now is the time to step up and become and elite CB.

Now is the time for opposing offenses to fear Aaron Ross.

Did you know, the record for most interceptions in a single season is 14 by Dick "Night train" Lane in 1952?

*BREAKING NEWS: Be sure to come back and check out The Extra Point Interviews: Aaron Ross with Robert Domaine on June 19, 2009.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season. That and more articles on everything New York Giants.

The Extra Point Interviews: Brandon Jacobs

Robert Domaine — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:15:55 -0400

New York Giants Interview

June 5, 2009

The Extra Point Interviews: Brandon Jacobs

With: Robert Domaine

b/r - Hello Brandon, how are you doing today?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - I know you've been asked this before but not from me. Brandon Jacobs, Superbowl Champion, how does it feel to hear that?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - You wear #27 for the Giants, a number another running back had here, Rodney Hampton, one of the most beloved Giants of all time. I’m not going to ask you, if you feel you can fill those shoes, because you already have. What I want to know is, did you pick that number and why? Or was it given to you?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - How has rookie RB Andre Brown looked so far? Some say he was a steal where the Giants drafted him. Does he need to be concerned about some rookie hazing from you?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - Now that Derrick Ward has broken up the band, by bolting to Tampa Bay for a starting role, who has shined so far auditioning for the replacement in Earth, Wind & Fire?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - You played college ball with Ronnie Brown & Cadillac Williams at Auburn before deciding to head to Southern Illinois in search of a starting role. Now that you have had to reflect on that choice, do you still think it was the right move for you? It seems to have worked out fine in retrospect but in that moment, it must have been a hard make or break decision.

Brandon - Answer

b/r - Have you set any goals for the 2009 season based on previous bench marks? Is there a certain process you have personally to prepare for the games? Since you're already a Super Bowl Champion, could a trip to the Pro Bowl be on that list?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - I’ve heard that opposing teams dedicate a whole week of planning for you on not using arm tackles. What is going on in your mind, when you break through the line and are facing a lone cornerback or safety?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - You are a big, strong man at 6’4” 265 pounds. How much of that is just natural strength and how much of it is through working out at the gym? What kind of workout schedule do you adhere to for yourself outside of the Giants regiment?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - Reports said that you were in contact with Eddie George about the "big man" running game. How was Eddie with his knowledge sharing? And who were some of the players you looked up to back in the day, players you carved your game after?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - Who is the funniest guy on the team? Sort of the class clown if you will. And who has become your best friend on the team?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - I’ve heard about all of the charity work you do, are their any charities you are currently working with and how can our readers find out where to help?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - OK Brandon last question, if you were trapped in a space ship on a 25 year mission to Jupiter, and could only take three people with you, who would they be?

Brandon - Answer

b/r - Brandon, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us here at bleacher report and good luck to you for the 2009 season.

Brandon - Final Words

This is the fourth mock/pilot interview in a series called The Extra Point Interviews.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season. And more article on everything New York Giants.

New York Giants: Diamonds Are Forever!

Robert Domaine — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:24:53 -0400

New York Giants Report

June 4, 2009

The New York Giants are now three-time Super Bowl Champions, after making it to the big game four times, once losing to the Ravens in 2000. They also happen to be an Elite NFL team entering the 2009 season.

It's been a long time coming but the Giants are finally making good. I have said it before and I'll say it again, Eli Manning could realistically retire with three rings by the end of his career, if the G-men continue to improve as they have the past few seasons.

The Giants, being one of the original football teams, also won four Championships pre-Super Bowl in American Football. The long deep history reflects the Mara family's roots in the game. The two top teams with the most rings are the Steelers & Cowboys. Or at least the two teams within the Giants sights.

This article is about the rings. I will list them below and including the value of each and carats. I had to dig around for this info but I think it is worth posting during this slow NFL period. I know there a lot of football fans out there that say it’s not all about the rings. I disagree somewhat with you.

The rings are a big part of winning a Championship, obviously. To use the amount of Championship rings a team has, to measure their overall success is something that will be done forever.

I don’t think one can use the past to dictate the future success of a team though. I believe that should all be left in the history books and not applied to any reasoning for whether or not a current team is good.

Giants pre-Super Bowl Championships

1927 - 1934 - 1938 - 1956

Giants Super Bowl Championships

XXI 1986 - XXV 1990 - XLII 2007

Giants Super Bowl ring stats

XXI Super Bowl Champions Ring - .75 carats valued at $4,000 when purchased.

XXV Super Bowl Champions Ring- .75 carats valued at $4,000 when purchased.

XLII Super Bowl Champions Ring- 1.5 carats valued at $48,000 when purchased.

OTA's will be wrapping up soon and training camp will be here sooner then we think. Get ready for a great season Giants fans. I don’t think anyone can argue the fact that the G-men will most likely make it back to the playoffs this year.

And if you encounter one of these people, ask them to explain why they don’t think that will happen. I look forward to adding a fourth ring to this list in the near future. That will be one edit worth making at any time.

*Did you know the New York Giants have sent 15 players to the Hall of Fame?

*Did you know the New York Giants have retired 11 jersey numbers? The numbers are 1 - 4 - 7 - 11 - 14 - 16 - 32 - 40 - 42 - 50 - 56

*Did you know that in 1935, New York Giant Ray Flaherty's No. 1 Jersey, was the first Jersey number retired in any major sport?

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.

Giants Begin OTA Schedule: Getting Down to Business

Robert Domaine — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:04:14 -0400

New York Giants Report

May 27, 2009

FINALLY, after a very long drought without any Giants news, Team OTA's began today. Having already completed the rookie mini-camp May 8-10, the Giants go into the next phase of preparation, which is the OTA's or Organized Team Activities.

This is a good sign for those thirsting for some news from the Giants organization. It means the preseason will be here before we know it. The G-men have five scheduled two-day dates set. They are May 27-29, June 1-2, June 4-5, June 8-9 and June 11-12 with the first set of dates kicking off today.

Mandatory mini-camp dates will follow that on June 16-18, this is when everyone shakes off the rust and really starts getting down to business. After this stage, Big Blue will hold training camp on July 25, 2009 in Albany, NY.

Over the next couple of months, the veterans will start meshing with the new arrivals, rookies will most assuredly be getting hazed, play books will be studied day and night, film, film and more film will be watched and dissected by the coaches, and players and phones will start ringing off the hook. It is all a part of becoming a real team.

All of the traditions, practices, hazing, laughs, and cries are part of a bonding experience among the players. This makes them stronger. These actions make them respect one another on a higher level.

It reminds me of a quote from a move called "Three Kings," where a captain tells his soldier, "First, you have to do the thing you're afraid to do, then you get the courage, not the other way around."

It is the same with these men. First, the players must sweat and bleed together, then they get the respect, not the other way around. First, you must endure the pain and agony of structured practices and meetings, then you get to play. Even though they technically play everyday, it's not the same as game time.

I'm not sure which players will do well during this period. But I do know the Giants will be ready when the season starts, that much I am sure about.

*BREAKING NEWS: Be sure to come back on Friday May 29, 2009 for the next installment of The Extra Point Interviews: Clint Sintim with Robert Domaine.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.

NYG Great Expectations: The Check Is in The Mail

Robert Domaine — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:47:28 -0400

New York Giants Report

May 26, 2009

Projections, directions, expectations. We all have them.

All of us to some degree, give our thoughts to the b/r community for satisfaction. Like from the Rolling Stones song, I can't get no.

The wheels are always turning, the information train doesn't stop on the way to the readers. In this article, we will discuss my expectations for the 2009 New York Giants season. In essence, this article will be the culmination of all the previous articles I've written here on b/r. A summary if you will. Lets get started.

I expect the New York Giants to have a great season for many reasons.

The first reason is because of the defense. This defense led by Osi, Tuck & Pierce is absolutely terrifying. I expect them to rank in the top-3 total defenses in the NFL. I also expect them to be a top-5 leader in sacks and interceptions. The front seven will be so relentless in the pass rush, that the Giants defensive backs should feast on interceptions this year. Expect big years from Aaron Ross and Kenny Phillips in particular.

Tuck and Osi should get a dozen sacks each minimum. Keep an eye on rookie linebacker Clint Sintim this year. He could develop very quickly if he gets the playbook down. The new comers like Canty, Bernard, Boley, and Brown will be under a microscope during their first year with Big Blue. Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan has a wealth of talent to work with and should transition well for the departed Steve Spagnuolo.

I expect the offense to be productive this year. It pains me to use words like that when in my heart, I want to say explosive or dynamic. But that just isn't the case yet with the Giants offense.

They are more methodical then they are explosive or flashy. They have their moments but the truth is, they are efficient. Sounds like an ugly word but it wins games. Having a defense like they have to compliment and help an offense will play a big part in ball control this year.

Time of possession should favor the G-Men this year. They should have more time on the field to produce. You can say whatever you want about Eli Manning, but you give him enough chances and he is going to hurt you.

I expect another solid year from running back Brandon Jacobs, with over 1,000 yards again and 10 touchdowns minimum.

Tight end Kevin Boss should shine under the play action of Manning this year. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw will slide right into the No. 2 role without any issues and perform well. Keep an eye on rookie receivers Hakeem Nicks & Ramses Barden along with running back Andre Brown.

There isn't a way to exceed my expectations, of the New York Giants winning Super Bowl XLIV this year. But there are a couple of potential obstacles that could prevent things from playing out the way they should on paper.

No. 1 on that list is injuries. Teams can be decimated by injuries and have their seasons ruined. We have seen this time and time again. Keeping your rotations fresh is the key to health, but unexpected things happen, and you need to be deep enough to handle that. I think the Giants are deep enough.

No. 2 on that list in performance. If Giants players play to their potential this year and perform, there will be no stopping this team. But if not, then they have less of a chance for a smooth ride. The Giants receiver group needs to step up big this year. It has consistently been the most-talked-about Giants issue this entire off season.

Here are two of my scenarios that end favorably with the New York Giants winning Super Bowl XLIV.

Giants vs. Colts, Giants win 34-27.

Giants vs. Patriots, Giants win 34-20.

Look for future interviews with players during training camp and the regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.

The Extra Point Interviews: Jessie Armstead

Robert Domaine — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:13:32 -0400

New York Giants Interview

May 25, 2009 Memorial Day Special

The Extra Point Interviews - Jessie Armstead

With: Robert Domaine

b/r: Hello Jessie, how are you doing today?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: Jessie, I can't tell you how happy I am to have the opportunity to interview you. You were one of the most exciting players to watch every Sunday. How were your years here (1993-2001) with the New York Giants?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: Every person I have talked to about you says you felt New York was always your home. That's kind of odd coming from someone who grew up in Texas. What was it about the Giants that made you feel so at home?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: I'm proud to say I own an Authentic No. 98 Jessie Armstead Blue Jersey from back in the day. What made you pick that number?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: You were hired by the Giants as a Special Consultant in September 2008. How are things going with that? We all know the passion you have for the game. How does it feel to be back with the Giants organization?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: What would be the dream ending to your post-football career? Where do you see yourself five years down the road with the Giants?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: What was your funniest moment with the Giants players hanging out in NYC?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: Who is the greatest New York Giant you’ve ever played with?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: What was your relationship like with him? Is this someone you still call a friend today?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: What was your greatest moment as a New York Giant?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: If you had to take three former teammates to war with you, who would they be?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: On June 13, 2007, you signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a New York Giant. That’s the way it should be in my opinion. Why was doing this important to you?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: As a linebacker, what do you think of rookie linebacker Clint Sintim so far? Sintim will be next week's guest on The Extra Point Interviews, so is their anything you want to say directly to him?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: Are their any charities you are currently working with? How can someone find out about how to help?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: Final question Jessie. Being selected to five Pro Bowls is something very few players get to experience. It’s a testament to your work ethic. Is there something in the water down at the University of Miami that produces Pro-Bowl players like yourself?

Jessie: Answer

b/r: Jessie, thanks so much for taking the time to sit down with Bleacher Report today. Best wishes to you, in all that you do.

Jessie: Final Words

This is the second mock/pilot interview for The Extra Point Interviews column.

*BREAKING NEWS: Be sure to come back and check out The Extra Point Interviews: Clint Sintim with Robert Domaine on Friday, May 29, 2009.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.

New York Giants...the Movie?

Robert Domaine — Sun, 24 May 2009 09:31:07 -0400

New York Giants Story

May 24, 2009

COMING TO THEATERS...IN THE WINTER OF...FEBRUARY 2011!

THE TRUE STORY OF THE GREATEST UPSET IN SUPER BOWL HISTORY

The true story of the New York Giants road to becoming Super Bowl XLII Champions by beating the undefeated 18-0 New England Patriots. Not only was this the biggest upset in the history of the Super Bowl, it also has claim to the greatest play in Super Bowl history, “The Catch” Manning to Tyree.

The cast is listed below and the story is in the history books. This cast also lends for some serious comedy relief with Dave Chappelle as the locker room manager and Eddie Murphy as assistant locker room manager. Charlie Murphy as Sam Madison, constantly harasses Eddie’s character.

The bankroll for talent alone on this makes it impossible unless the actors just want to be a part of something big. If you subtract the humor from this it is actually a very good cast for a serious story. It was fun to write the script though and I leave it here as a quick read and something for b/r fans to enjoy over this Memorial Day Weekend!

Director: Tony Scott

The Cast:

Terry Crews as Michael Strahan

John Krasinski as Easy Eli Manning.

Thomas Jane cameo as Peyton Manning

Will Smith as Osi Umenyiora

Clint Eastwood as Coach Coughlin

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as Brandon Jacobs

Christopher Meloni as Coach Spagnuolo

Derek Luke as David Tyree

Ben Affleck as Tom Brady

Dwayne "Rock" Johnson as Antonio Pierce

Bow Wow as Steve Smith

Common as Amani Toomer

John Cena as Jeremy Shockey

Don Cheadle as Jerry Reese

Michael Clark Duncan as Justin Tuck

Todd "LL Cool J" Smith as Derrick Ward

Kevin Spacey as Bill Belichek

Marquees Houston as Aaron Ross

Kate Mara as Eli Manning's wife

Charlie Murphy as Sam Madison

Dave Chappelle as the locker room manager

Eddie Murphy as the assistant locker room manager

Martin Lawrence as the 2nd assistant locker room manager

Method Man as Plaxico Burress

John Goodman as Coach Gilbride

Robert Duvall as Archie Manning

Channing Tatum as Kevin Boss

Shia Lebeouf as Lawrence Tynes

Nate Robinson as Ahmad Bradshaw

Lil Wayne as RW McQuarters

Snoop Dogg as Randy Moss

Nelly as Rodney Harrison

Vin Diesel as Tedi Brushci

Tommy Lee Jones as Jerry Jones

Paul Walker as Tony Romo

Tyrese as Terrell Owens

Lobo Sebastian as Junior Seau

Ving Rhames as Richard Seymour

Mark Wahlberg as Wes Welker

Cuba Gooding Jr. as Tiki Barber the Reporter

Bruce Willis as Brett Favre

Denzel Washington as US Army LT. Col. Greg Gadson

Special appearances (three-day shoot) at the Super Bowl Victory party by:

The Mara family as themselves

Lawrence Taylor as himself

Bill Parcells as himself

Phil Simms as himself

George Martin as himself

Harry Carson as himself

Pepper Johnson as himself

Jessie Armstead as himself

Mike Tyson as himself

John Madden as himself

Jay Z as himself

Russell Simmons as himself

James Gandolfini as himself

Sean Combs as himself

Mariah Carey as herself

Jennifer Lopez as herself

Derek Jeter as himself

LeBron James as himself

Bob Papa as himself

Michael Eisen as himself

This was an excerpt from an article I wrote on the Giants com message boards. I was talking to a bunch of other Giants fans and having fun with the fact we won the Super Bowl and things spiraled from there. I still laugh when I read the cast for this project that could never be.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.

Inside The Playbook: Giant Changes & Stating The Obvious

Robert Domaine — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:21:59 -0400

New York Giants Report

May 22, 2009

As we sit on the cusp of a fresh new season, a lot of changes have been made to the Giants roster. Along with these changes to the roster, a new game plan must be created to utilize the talent acquired and compensate for talent lost. Big Blue has been very good at handling such additions/departures thus far, under Jerry Reese' regime and I expect this year to be no different.

As they head into the 2009 NFL season, the Giants are one of the few teams that are solid in multiple areas of the team. The constant question circulating the sports sites and message boards is ,"Who is the No. 1 Wide Receiver for the Giants?"

This question alone makes for huge changes in how the G-men can approach a game. With the departure of troubled WR Plaxico Burress and the beloved WR Amani Toomer, the Giants are left with a group of unproven WR's. This one question should make it obvious what the Giants will do on offense.

I don't expect many changes to the playbook on the defensive side of the ball. When you have eight starting defensive lineman, rotating in and out of plays, it is pretty clear the Giants are committed to rushing the passer. Bolstering the LB Corps (Boley & Sintim) to handle whatever RB's manage to squeak past the lineman, should prove valuable. I have said it before and I'll say it again, if the DB's play to their ability, it should be a feast in the INT department for Big Blue this year.

The constant chaos created by the front seven will open up plenty of opportunities for a "steak dinner" each week for the DB's. DC Bill Sheridan isn't Coach Spags, everybody knows this. Many Giants fans are worried that the aggressive style of play will slow down—I disagree.

The Giants defense is built for aggression, you take any DC and give them these players and it is obvious what needs to be done with the talent. The Giants defense will be old school and effective, the "here we are, now stop us" mentality based off of a pretty basic game plan.

The offensive side of the ball is where the majority of playbook changes will occur. Like Jerry Reese said, "There are many ways to win a football game" and I have to agree with him. With all the questions swirling around about the WR group, people tend to forget the Giants had the No. 1 rushing game last year. They also have one of the best offensive lines in football with a pro bowl quarterback in Eli Manning.

Yes, they have some young receivers and will almost definitely get another WR this year or next but these are still NFL WR's, capable of running routes and making catches. OC Kevin Gilbride won't have it as easy as DC Bill Sheridan, as far as, players to work with but he isn't in dire straits as some may think.

The biggest changes to the offensive playbook this year will involve the TE position. I expect to see an increase of play action (Eli's specialty) going to the tight ends. Basically, forcing the defenses to focus on each player, as opposed to sending two DB's out to cover a star WR. They will be a compact offense relying on the running game to open up the passing game in short bursts. It might not be glamorous but it is effective.

I expect more changes to the playbook for the RB's. The key to the running game this year will be in Ahmad Bradshaw's hands. We know Brandon "The Bull" Jacobs is the hammer, but special plays will be drawn up to utilize the speed and slicing ability of Bradshaw. Ahmad Bradshaw does not have the same skill set as the departed Derrick Ward. That doesn't mean his game play is worth less then Ward's, it's just different and the G-men will adjust accordingly.

I look for the Giants to stick to a basic game plan for the WR's. They need to "keep it simple" for this crop of young guys, still trying to understand the game at the next level. All in all, I expect the Giants to be productive on offense and help the team to another playoff spot in 2009. I am excited to see how all of this plays out and to see who steps up to become the next Giants star.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.

2009 Fantasy Football Strategy & Tips: New York Giants

Robert Domaine — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:02:35 -0400

New York Giants Fantasy Report

May 21, 2009

Hello New York Giants fans, I'm not sure how many of you have played fantasy football before, so I will go slow and break things down for you the best I can. For those of you that have played before, I hope you find this information helpful.

Some of you may play in money leagues. You can find those at CBSSports com. Great programs there for all fantasy games with different levels of wagers, the lowest being about 30 bucks per team wins you 200. You don't need to play a "pay" league as they have free leagues there as well. The Free leagues use the same format as the "pay" leagues. I truly believe CBSSports just built a better product with a better level of competition.

Be sure to check if your draft is a LIVE Draft or an automated one. Most prefer to use the LIVE Draft option, so they can pick their players according to other team picks.

I recommend using the mock draft system prior to you doing your real draft—at least a week or two before the real thing to practice at your draft position. This is the reason for my screen name is MOCK KING U for CBSSports. I am a BIG believer in the mock draft system. Using the mock drafts early on, as soon as they become available, will allow you to find the "gems" buried in the ranking system over an injury or something like that. I have won more Championships by good preparation then I have by hoping to land a good pick come draft day.

For example, in this year’s 2009 Draft LT was listed very low, in the low 20's I believe. So if your in a 10 or 12 man league, and you drew the low draft pick say between 9-12, you have the luxury of picking a Top QB then catch an LT on short way back around. By picks 9-12 you can have the sixth or seventh best RB or a first or second best QB. The top QBs will not last through round two and WRs are too deep to pick before a top three QB.

Also during the draft, use the position tabs (RB,WR,QB) to show you who is really available per position rankings. Most people have it set to "ALL", but it is good to switch back and forth from that setting. The truth is revealed when you search by specific position.

Also, pay attention to who has their team set on autopilot. These teams follow a specific pattern when they draft, say round one QB, round two RB and so forth. This can help you determine picks that might still be available for a certain position.

I will give my list of New York Giants players that will offer the most fantasy points to a team owner. This list will be in order of value to the fantasy team owner. This is strictly based on hard cold math statistics.

1. RB Brandon Jacobs - First/Second round pick. Brandon "the Bull" should top 1000 yards again this year with 10 TD's. 6'4" 264 pounds is hard to bring down.

2. QB Eli Manning - Third/Fourth round pick. Eli will be efficient again leading the Offense and is a solid value in those rounds if you grab RBs & WRs first.

3. NY Giants Defense - Middle Round pick. The defensive team could possibly outdo Eli or BJ this year in points. They are that good. They could average 20 fantasy points per week for a team owner.

4. RB Ahmad Bradshaw - Middle round pick. Good backup for Jacobs. I expect 800 yards and eight TD's from Bradshaw this year. He is coming along nicely.

5. WR Steve Smith - Middle round pick. number two WR. Smith will see a lot more passes thrown his way this year. He has sure hands and will be relied on this year.

6. TE Kevin Boss - Middle Round pick. TE definitely top 10. I expect 600 yards and six TD's from Boss this year. Two TE's were added, but Boss is their number one.

7. K Lawrence Tynes - Eleventh/Twelfth pick. Late Round pick. Top 10 kicker, lower top 10 though. Should average 8-10 fantasy points per week.

8. WR Hakeem Nicks - Late round pick. With rookies you never know. Better to take a vet WR early and grab Nicks later on. I'm rooting for him to do well.

Look for future interviews with Giants players during training camp and the regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.

Win Or Lose: The New York Giants Are My Team!

Robert Domaine — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:46:49 -0400

New York Giants Report

May 21. 2009

I have been a Giants fan since I was a little kid, and here is one of the main reasons why.

The memory that stands out the most came in 1986 when the Giants won the Super Bowl. I was 13 and had watched the game with friends and family. It was a great time had by all.

It wasn't until everyone left the house and things calmed down, that things began to heat back up. I heard a bunch of bangs coming from the living room, by the front door.

So, I tip-toed out like I was hoping to catch Santa Claus making a second round through the neighborhood. I brought my Louisville Slugger with me, just in case it wasn't Santa. And who do I see standing there but my Uncle Frank with a huge smile on his face saying, "Come here".

He is a big guy, 6'4" and 250 pounds, and it's 1 a.m. by this time, so he is kind of whispering. I walk over to him and he throws a T-shirt over my shoulder. It was a Giants Super Bowl Champions T-shirt.

He says, "I got this for you." I say, "But they just won tonight, how did you get this?"

He ignores me and yells, "We won!"

He woke up my mother, who came out and made coffee. And we just sat at the kitchen table talking about the Giants over cake and coffee and milk. A true family moment.

This was a big deal for a 13-year-old to be sitting in the kitchen up that late on a Sunday, so big a deal, that I never forgot it. I've Played 6 years of Baseball through grade school. 2 years of Football for pop warner and HS. 1 year of Basketball in grade school. 1 year of Track - shot put - HS. But I also remember playing whiffle ball down the block in the street. We played street two-hand touch football, tackle football in the park, street hockey, stoop ball, basketball at many different courts countywide, racing bikes. Then there were the videos games like Madden football and NHL hockey. Hours upon hours of playing rounds with my friends all night. So there was always something going on with sports in my neighborhood growing up. Like with anything, some were better athletes then others but we were all there playing. I loved it all then real life hit. And it was time to go to work.

If this were a movie, this would be the part where the 13-year old kid transforms into a man before your very eyes. I have faithfully kept the tradition going, and I can't explain how much I love keeping up with Big Blue. I still talk to my Uncle about all the games and players, even to this day. Through all of my travels around the country, the Giants have been my one true connection with home.

I have a tradition every NFL Draft weekend. I stay home and crunch all the stats and players, working alongside the Giants to see if any of my picks are correct.

Now that I am back in the old neighborhood, I have been able to go to a lot of the games. And all of Giants Nation have been blessed the past few years with a really good team to root for. But it wouldn't matter anyway. Win or Lose, the New York Giants are my team, and they are my team for life.

*BREAKING NEWS: The Extra Point Interviews with Robert Domaine will be speaking to Jessie Armstead (seen in photo) next Monday May 25, 2009 so be sure to come back and check that out.

Look for future interviews with Giants' players during training camp and the regular season. And more articles on everything New York Giants.