Bleacher Report - Articles by Stove Pipe

N.Y Giants Need Anquan Boldin with Plaxico Burress Gone

Stove Pipe — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:44:33 -0400

"The New York Giants trade their first-round selection, and the rights to the New Orleans Saints second-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals for wide receiver Anquan Boldin."

It sounds like a lot to give up, I know. But with Plaxico Burress being cut, Giants fans need some good news. Doing whatever it takes to secure a talent like Anquan Boldin will make everyone forget about Plax.

Cutting Burress, while sad, was expected. It looks increasingly like he'll serve some jail time, as well as a league suspension. Keeping him around just isn't the Giants style and this will allow Plax a chance to clear his problems and start fresh.

Now it's time to move on and replace the man who has been the biggest receiving threat for the Giants since, well since forever. And that's going to take a bold, or dare I say Boldin move.

At 6-foot-5, with long arms and great hands, Plax was a nightmare in the red zone for defensive backs and coordinators alike. Finding guy like him is going to be next to impossible so the Giants shouldn't even bother.

A lot of people are talking about drafting a Percy Harvin, or some other rookie but that wouldn't do any more than a crap shoot. Remember James Hardy, the 6-foot-5 specimen the Buffalo Bills picked in the first round last year?

Instead of red zone production, all they got out of him was a big red face. You never know what your getting with a rookie, no matter how good he looks running around in shorts.

Hence the case for Boldin. First, he's a proven commodity and although not the same kind of player as Plax, he's one of the most prolific receivers in modern NFL history over his first six years in the league.

Second, he brings a whole new dimension to the Giants passing attack, giving them a Hall of Fame type possession receiver for the first time in team history. He's tough, athletic, runs great routes, has great hands, and runs well after the catch.

Here's how Boldin's numbers stack up against some other receivers you might have heard of over their first six years in the league:

                    Rec        Yd            Avg             TD           Gms        Rec/gm

A.Bouldin        502      6496       12.9        40          80          6.3

J. Rice           446       7866        17.9         79          92          4.8

M. Harrison     522       7078        13.4         62       92          5.7

T. Owens       412        6170       15.0         59         92          4.5


R. Moss         525       8374        13.3         77         96           5.5

P. Burress    337       5378        15.8         29         71           4.7

Not bad company and as you can see Boldin measures up favorably against them all.

Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Dominik Hixon, Mario Manningham, and Boldin would make a pretty formidable stable of wide receivers, all with varying and complementary skills.

This is the Giants' moment, and they should make it real with a serious play for Boldin. With 11 draft picks this year, five of which are in the first 100 picks, they have the assets to make this trade a reality.

So now is the time to drop the talk about Chad Johnson, or which rookie they should draft and get serious. This is a once in a lifetime chance, and for a team that has few other glaring holes and is within striking distance of another Super Bowl, it seems like a no brainer.

The Cards are probably asking a ton, which is understandable. But when you have the chance to add a once-in-a decade talent to your team, and you have the ammunition to pull it off without mortgaging your future, you should go for it.

Brady Rule? Bah! Here'sTwo Novel Ideas For Protecting NFL Quarterbacks.

Stove Pipe — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:00:01 -0400

Ever since Tom Brady went down in the first game of the 2009 NFL season, his injury has been fodder for talking heads and fans alike. With news this week that the league is seriously considering implementing a rule targeting defensive players who lunge at quarterbacks knees from the ground, we'll be moving on to the next part of the discussion or what to do about this so-called "Brady Rule".

Football is a violent sport and there's not a lot outside of penalizing obvious cheap shots and use of the helmet as a weapon that the league can do about it. Nor should they.

The stakes are high in football and ever since Lawrence Taylor came around, defensive coordinators figured out that if they can knock the other guys quarterback out, they greatly enhance their chance for victory. A perverse incentive to kill quarterbacks if there ever was one.

However, truth be told football sucks to watch when it's quarterbacked by guys who can't play very well. Just look at the XFL and WFL. Those leagues collapsed for a number of reasons, but not the least of which was the games were hard to watch due to the lack of professional quality quarterbacks.

The problem in football is that there are too few good quarterbacks, not too many. The league is correct in that there should be some kind of protection afforded to them.

However the better way to protect quarterbacks cannot be by limiting a defensive player's ability or his instinct to play all out.

I propose two ideas, both of which offer more quarterback "protection" by slight rule changes shifting some pressure onto defense's instead of penalizing players for playing the game the way they were taught.

The first idea is that offensive tackles should be allowed to be eligible receivers, giving offenses up to seven potential receivers instead of five.

True, that's potentially less blockers to protect the passer but accounting for the possibility of seven receivers will make defense's think twice about committing six or seven to the rush. It force's defenses to defend more of the field instead of focusing solely on disrupting the quarterback.

Although it's hard to imagine today's offensive tackles going out for passes, over time the position could evolve to be manned by players that look more like tight ends and outside linebackers with more athleticism and less bulk.

Tackles are asked to block some of the best athletes on the field but they themselves are out-sized behemoths, coveted more for size than athletic ability. I think if they could catch passes they might look more like the guys they block rather than road-grading machines.

Throwing some of the defense's athleticism back at them might be interesting to watch, plus requires no change in the way the game is officiated. The added bonus is it slows down the defensive evolution towards quarterback destruction, and is a more natural way of changing the game than legislating conact out of it.

The second idea is much simpler. Allow the offense to play with 12 men, an extra player on all plays who is again an eligible receiver. The offense has the option of how to use him, again putting different pressures on defensive game plans and players.

They could split him out or keep him in, use him as an outlet receiver or personal protector. Defenses would have to adjust accordingly to account for the extra head. If they lined up and attacked the quarterback on every play, they would pay the price.

Again, very little about the game or how it is officiated would have to change in order to accomodate this change.

Realistically, these are meant more to spark discussion rather than as serious proposals to change the game. But there has to be a better way of protecting quarterbacks than telling defenders who are on the ground to forget a lifetime of football training and give up every time they get knocked down.

Certainly everyone agrees that quarterbacks need to be preserved somehow, let's just not do it by outlawing players natural instincts and training.

Giants Outclassed By Eagles: Post-Mortem For The Defending Champs

Stove Pipe — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:27:48 -0500

The New York Giants, defending Super Bowl champs and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs were soundly beaten by a tougher and better prepared Philadelphia Eagles team yesterday.

So now of course, people are making excuses for the team not meeting expectations. The truth is, in a truly grueling season, this team did more than hold it's own - no excuses are necessary. If fact, they probably exceeded most reasonable expectations.

Yesterday they were beaten by better prepared team. To say anything less is to denigrate an Eagles team which very well could go on to win it's first Super Bowl.

So, how is it a 12-4 year can seem like a failure for New York? Did Eli Manning revert to mediocrity? Did the distraction of Plaxico Burress cost his team it's chance to repeat? My answers are: it isn't, he didn't, and nope.

None of these are the reasons the Giants will be watching this year's Super Bowl instead of playing in it. Here is my post-mortem report for the New York Giants, 2008:

On paper, the 12-4 Giants seemed to have a great shot at repeating last year's championship run. They played 10 straight opponents with winning records, going 7-3 in that stretch. They went 4-2 in arguably the toughest division in football. They led the league in rushing, had two 1,000 yard backs, were ranked in the top ten in the league defensively and had the NFC Pro Bowl placekicker and punter.

Now we know why the game isn't played on paper, don't we?

On the field, it was a different matter. All the favorable statistics aside, this team was not quite as good as they played this year. Last year's team played well in spurts and gave fans a glimpse of a bright future. Then they got on a tear, played at their peak level in the playoffs, and the rest is history.

Despite being ripe for a let down after their championship, the Giants went out and won three games for every one they lost this year. There was no post-Super Bowl hangover, they stepped on the gas from week one. They played with a chip and certainly looked like they had an opportunity to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

But the dynamic of their season was different. Some wins came at the expense of bad teams and some came against good teams during down periods. They caught some of the best teams on their schedule like Pittsburgh and Baltimore at perfect times and took advantage.

This team peaked also, but they did so in October/November with consecutive wins against Pittsburgh, Dallas, Philly, Baltimore, Arizona, and the Redskins.

After losing two straight games in December, they showed championship form by coming from eight points down in the fourth quarter to beat Carolina in overtime. That clinched the top seed in the playoffs and showed they were still a great football team with a lot of heart. Even with that effort, they were just not as good as last year while the rest of the league got better.

As far as Manning goes, it's the same as for any individual player. Last time I checked, football was a team game. Sure, he didn't play great yesterday, but it would be hard to find guys who did. He doesn't deserve any more blame than anybody else who botched a play, missed a tackle, or missed a catch.

He may not look great at times but Eli has won a Super Bowl, putting him among a pretty select group of quarterbacks. Looking around the league, I think the Giants like their chances with Manning as their quarterback. As for the Burress situation, everything that needs to be said about it has been said. For professional athletes to use the behavioral problems of a teammate as an excuse for poor play is stupid and indefensible. I haven't heard one player use it yet and I hope none of them do, it'll just make them look like whiners.

How about these, what if Strahan didn't retire, or Osi didn't get hurt?

So what? They did. Get over it, fellow fans.

Every player in the league has injuries and has to play through them. If they can't, you plug someone else in and get to the getting. The Giants did a great job of that last year, and this year not quite so good. An area to work on in the off-season? I think so.

The good news is that this team is built for the future. They have some needs to fill to be sure, but the nucleus of this team will be around for a while. With an astute front office, a brand new stadium generating a ton of new revenue, and two extra draft picks this year, prospects look good for more Giants playoff runs in the future.

Giant Steps: How the New York Giants Move On with Plaxico Burress

Stove Pipe — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:56:55 -0500

Well, you can't say you didn't see this coming. The Plaxico Burress Train has finally come off the rails and landed smack dab on top of the New York Giants' playoff run.

Like Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, Chris and Travis Henry, and the rest of football's merry pranksters before him, Plax has finally and perhaps fatally shot his career in the foot, pun intended.

So what to do now? To listen to most talking heads it must be panic time for the Giants brain trust. What ever will they do, what with all the distractions and the loss of their top receiver? Surely this must be the end of any playoff chance.

Not so fast people.

Putting the facts of the current situation aside, every Giants fan knew in their heart this Burress thing wouldn't last. The Giants have always been a no-nonsense franchise, sending miscreants and malcontents packing well before their talent would have gotten them cut.

Burress was a large part of the offensive game plan, that's for sure. But since signing his big contract extension before the season, he was fairly nonexistent. Dominik Hixon and Sinorice Moss have both proven capable in his stead, Moss in stretching defenses and Hixon in making big plays down the field. The fall off from Plax has been almost imperceptible.

Now, consider the locker room. How well received do you think the guy really was, and how much with all his antics really be missed?

Listen, everyone in that locker room likes Plax, and I like Plax but team chemistry is a very volatile thing and shouldn't be trifled with, especially on this team.

Remember Tiki Barber? He was the unquestioned team leader on the field, but when he announced he was quitting on his teammates after the 2006 season, he destroyed the teams morale.

The team was much better off once the traveling circus of Tiki's farewell year was over. Same will hold true here, the Giants will move on.

This isn't the Cowboy's, who's owner thrives on big gambles and the potentially big payoffs that come with them. Nor is it the Redskins or the Raiders, teams constantly searching for the "missing piece" to their championship puzzle. This is a franchise with a long term, well-thought-out plan. There will be no panic or high profile risky moves, nor should there be.

Instead of fracturing, I think you'll see this team rally around each in a way that makes them all stronger. Players who have been waiting for a chance will be expected to step up and do the jobs they have been preparing themselves for, because that chance is here now.

This franchise's outlook and this team's resiliency are just a couple of the reasons I'm a New York Giant football fan, I personally can't wait to see these guys rise to meet this challenge.

As Plax is so fond of saying, he is his own worst enemy, and unfortunately, he is right. I hope for all the best for Plax and his family, and I hope he can get his career back on track some day.

I also hope that the Giants will stand by him, providing him the help he needs to get himself together until the day come when they part ways. Unfortunately for Plax, that day is coming soon.

It was nice while it lasted, via con dios buddy.

New York Giants Subdue Redskins, Take a Giant Stride Towards the Playoffs

Stove Pipe — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:35:17 -0500

Despite all the fall-da-rall that is Plaxico Burress, illegal handguns, and such, the G-men once again showed why they are the team to beat in the NFC, pasting the Redskins yesterday 23 - 7.

Today' column is a Plaxico free zone, so if you're looking for that look elsewhere. It's time to give credit where it is due, namely to the 53 guys that suit up every week and have made the Giants 11 - 1.

Yesterday was just another in a season long showcase of a team on a mission. The offense, defense, and special teams all rose to the occasion to keep the Giants division record perfect and to move within one game of clinching the NFC East.

Eli Manning was 21 out of 34 for 305 yards and a touchdown. Earth and Wind (Jacobs and Ward) rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown, with a 51 yard scamper by Ward in the fourth quarter called back for holding.

The defense held the Redskins to just seven points for the second time this season, along with an interception, two forced fumbles, and four sacks. Most of the yardage they gave up came during garbage time late in the fourth quarter and came via the feet of Jason Campbell, as league rushing leader Clinton Portis was held to just 22 yards on 11 carries.

So perhaps it's past time we recognized the guys who suit it up every week, go out on the field and get their jobs done without any fanfare. It's time to focus for once on the hero's instead of the zeros.

So here's to Domenik Hixon, a guy who steps into every breach and contributes any way he can to help this team win.

Here's to Danny Clark and Chase Blackburn, two guys much maligined at the start of the season as being part of the weak link of the Giants' defense, but who go out every week and make plays that help their team win.

Here's to Sean O'Hara, Dave Diehl, Rich Seubert, Kareem McKenzie, and Chris Snee who open the holes for the running game and keep Manning on his feet in the passing game. Not a single pro bowler among them, yet the best rushing offense in the league. I leave that for you to figure out.

And what about Madison Hedgecock? Madison who you say? Is there a better lead blocker in the game today? Maybe, but you'd have to show him me.

Here's to Jay Alford, Dave Tollefson, John Carney, and Jeff Feagles. To Kenny Phillips, Terrell Thomas, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Fred Robbins. To Amani Toomer, Kevin Boss, Brandon Jacobs, and Derrick Ward. To Corey Webster, Justin Tuck, Aaron Ross, and Mathias Kiwanuka.

To all the men who leave it all on the field every week, the men who have made this team great this year, here's to you.

These are the guys the media should be talking about, these are the men whose stories we should hear.

It's a sad fact that in this car-crash mentality media circus we call America, we focus only on the spectacle and not the substance. Like ADHD children we turn from one sad tragic-comedy to the next, never acknowledging those who toil and never seek the limelight.

So sadly, we deserve what we get. All the TO, Ocho Cinco, Plax, and Pac-man antics we can take all the time. Or as I like to describe it, having our noses rubbed in our own shit.

There is a beauty to being a Giants' fan though. It's that we know this latest episode won't last long. Anybody out here remember Jeremy Shockey? How's that hissy-fit of his working out for him so far?

Plax, it was nice while it lasted.

Giants-Steelers: Led by Defense, New York Pulls Out Smashmouth Slugfest

Stove Pipe — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:06:25 -0400

In what may be a preview of Super Bowl XLIII, the New York Giants won back their status as road warriors by edging the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday, 21-14 at Heinz Field.

The Giants defense was stifling, shutting down the Steelers offense with five sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and too many hits to count on "Big" Ben Roethlisberger.

Despite giving up two big plays for touchdowns, a 32-yard scoring run by Mewelde Moore and a 65-yard Roethlisberger strike to Nate Washington, they held the Steelers to less than 26 minutes of possession and 250 total yards.

In contrast, the Steelers defense didn't get to Eli Manning at all. The Giants line kept Manning upright all game, and, as has become his trademark, he kept the Giants close by not making any mistakes before bringing home the win in the fourth quarter.

But make no mistake, this was a defensive victory. The Giants "D" came out hitting and didn't stop until the final whistle. Kenny Phillips began to live up to his reputation as a punisher with a huge hit on Washington. Mathias Kiwanuka had three sacks and a forced fumble and James Butler put a kill shot on Limas Sweed that led to a Bryan Kehl interception.

Switching gears to offense, the story is more spotty. Although the Giants moved the ball well, they couldn't break through with any touchdowns until late in the game. John Carney was his usual steady self, going 4-for-4 on field goals, keeping the game close.

The Giants were stymied repeatedly by a stout Pittsburgh defense in the red zone, going 0-for-their-first-4 chances before breaking the ice with a Manning-to-Kevin Boss four-yard touchdown pass with 3:11 left in the game.

The offensive line did a great job all day. Although the running game never achieved any consistency, it kept Manning safe in the pocket. Pittsburgh came in with an NFL-leading 25 sacks, but, thanks to the O-line, didn't get to pad that statistic.

The Giants have entered into what most observers believe is the tough part of their schedule. The next two weeks bring games against two division rivals, first at home against the Cowboys and then a road game against the always-tough Philadelphia Eagles.

After two more tough games with Baltimore and Arizona, it's on to another showdown with the Washington Redskins, which could ultimately be for NFC East supremacy.

The victory against the Steelers will be one to savor, but not for long. It's on to the real business of winning the NFC East, and the road to that title starts now.

Jerry Jones And His Dallas Cowboys: All Hat, No Cattle?

Stove Pipe — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:46:40 -0400

Seven weeks into what was supposed to be a return to championship form for the Dallas Cowboys, it's starting to look like a season of regret. Losses in two of the last three weeks, including yesterday's to the previously 1-4 St. Louis Rams have raised serious and legitimate questions about this year's version of the Cowboys.

This were supposed to be the year of unstoppable offense and a tough as nails defense, a coronation, not a contest. The Cowboys had added Zach Thomas, and Adam and Felix Jones to a roster that already had 13 pro bowlers. How could the rest of the league even compete?

We were supposed to be saying break up the Cowboys, not what's wrong with the Cowboys. No one thought that we would be talking about the Cowboys being 4-3 at this point in the season.

So indeed, what is wrong with the Dallas Cowboys? It doesn't seem like the players, so hows about we start with the owner, pardner?

Behind every great team is great chemistry and character, I would posit is the cornerstone of chemistry. So let's take a look at these Cowboy's chemistry.

Can't find any? Neither can I.

Despite being a very shrewd evaluator of talent, Jerry Jones is either a terrible judge of character, or more likely doesn't place any importance upon it. Far from exhibiting any chemistry, Jones has put this team together without the slightest thought of it, and more likely disdain for it.

He often falls in love with the measurable qualities of players but overlooks their attitudes. He goes to extremes to obtain the best talent, but disregards whether or not they have the skills to be the best teammates.

Like all wildcat oilmen, he loves to gamble. He consistently bets that the lure of the Dallas star and the accompanying media attention will make even the most unreliable, unrepentant player straighten up and fly right. He draws prima donnas to Dallas like a light-bulb draws moths. Players with otherworldly talent, but who could never get along anywhere else are welcome in Big D, baggage and all.

How else do you explain Terrell Owens? I mean this was the guy who besides trashing every quarterback he ever played with, desecrated the Cowboys star as an Eagle for christsakes! What guy would you have thought would be less welcome in Dallas than T.O.?

And yet Jerry loves him so much he went out and got another guy just like him, one T.O. apparently not being enough.

Jones has that same disease that many millionaires have, the affliction that makes them believe that success in one field gives them credibility in another.

His lack of attention to character continues all the way to head coach. He only keeps underlings who can be controlled and manipulated, and coaches he can hector and second guess publicly.

His game ending sideline appearances are a sideshow solely designed to feed his ego. He wants the cameras right on him, so that he can take credit for every victory, or show his disappointment in the coach after a loss.

With the exception of Parcells and Johnson both of whom walked away instead of continuing to kowtow to him, all his coaches have been sycophantic yes—men who are unwilling to challenge him. And General Managers? Fugeddaboutit! Jerry will take care of that role, thank you very much.

Wade Phillips is a nice guy and by all estimation a good coach, but you and I know it's just a matter of time. It's the way it always works under Jones.

Now Cowboy fans, listen hear y'all before you get your panties in a bunch. This is still a very, very talented team, and one that I think will make the playoffs. But given what they have shown thus far, I am not at all sure of their ability to pull together and get what they came for, a championship.

You see, now is the time when you need team chemistry. This is when you need great locker room and the high character players. Guys that won't start back-biting and sniping at each other, asking for the ball and acting out like over paid children.

The Cowboys have always had their characters, as well as players with high character. For every Michael Irving and Leon Lett there were guys like Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman. For every Duane Thomas there was a Roger Staubach. As far as who might to be the stand up guys for this Cowboy team? Who Knows, but they better find one fast.

Looks like Jerry Jones might have been sleeping through chemistry class when putting the current Cowboys together. For the teams sake, I hope he paid someone to take notes.

Braylon And The Browns Whip New York 35 - 14

Stove Pipe — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:26:44 -0400

The Cleveland Browns shook off their mediocre early season performances last night and in their first Monday Night Football victory since 1993 creamed the Giants 35-14 . In what most people saw as a potential cakewalk for New York, the Giants looked unprepared and were outplayed and outhit by Cleveland all night long.

Braylon Edwards lit up the Giants secondary up for five catches, 154 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile the backfield got 144 yards from a combination of the power rushing of Jamal Lewis, and trickery from Joshua Cribbs and Jerome Harrison.

Derek Anderson, looking far from the skittish performer he has been most of this season reverted to last years pro bowl form going 18-29 for 310 yards and two touchdowns.

The Browns defense got into the act also with three interceptions, one of which Eric Wright returned 94 yards for a touchdown. Eli Manning looked confused by the fronts and coverages he saw from Cleveland, which rendered the passing game ineffective.

Football games are won on the field and this one was no exception, Cleveland was the far superior team last night. But the biggest difference was coaching. The Giants looked unprepared in every phase of the game and Cleveland took total advantage. Every defensive adjustment that Steve Spagnuolo made, Rob Chudzinski countered. Every wrinkle Kevin Gilbride tried, Mel Tucker had an answer for. It looked a little like one team had something to prove, and the other just showed up.

But Giants fans can take some good out of last night. The ground game was stellar again, gaining 181 yards on 25 carries, the big mystery being why they didn't run more as Cleveland was having no luck stopping them. Also, as a non-division and non-conference game, the loss means almost nothing in the larger scheme of playoff position in the NFC East.

There were no serious injuries except to players pride. After a good night rest, a look at the game films and a good old fashioned dose of humility, the Giants should be ready to tackle San Francisco on Sunday.

Plaxico Burress Comes Back, But Can't Keep His Mouth Shut

Stove Pipe — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:36:09 -0400

The soap opera surrounding Plaxico Burress just won't rest. Coming off a one game suspension, the Giants' touchdown maker was less than contrite in his first interview with the media yesterday.

"I guess they did what they felt they had to do, but I didn't lose any sleep over it" Burress stated. He went on to contradict Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin's version of events, implying that they knew about his absence but offering no proof or explanation as to why he had missed time other than to say it was a "personal matter".

Plaxico, like too many of the best receivers in the league has always been a bit of a problem child. While his talent is undeniable and he's a genuine tough guy who plays through pain, he often upstages his talent with a penchant for selfishness.

He's no diva like TO or Ocho Cinco, but he does tend to sulk when things go bad. His me against the world attitude may help him on the field, however in the locker room it doesn't help endear him to the coaching staff.

This is not a franchise like Cincinnati, Chicago or Dallas, who encourage or at the least put up with loutish behavior, especially form guys who can play. The Giants have the lowest tolerance in the league for player attitude. If you're not a team guy in their system, you're gone. Does Jeremy Shockey come to anyone's mind?

Sunday's game should have been a humbling experience for Burress, since the Giants didn't miss a beat without him. Domenik Hixon and Sinorice Moss shared his snaps and both played well. The lesson should be that if you have trouble taking to the rules, there are other guys who are waiting to take your spot. His comments seem to indicate the lesson didn't take.

All this is not to wonder if Plax wants out, or the Giants are tiring of his act, it's simply an exhortation for him to show up when expected, or if there's a problem to let someone know about it.

Come on Plax, you're the star of this offense, just like you knew you would be. You won a Super Bowl ring, just like you hoped you would. Your contract extension got done, just like Jerry Reese told you it would. You 've been treated like a star, now it's time to step up and act like a leader.

Plax is a good guy and by all indications a great teammate. But this organization dosen't go in for that one guy is bigger than the whole team crap. They showed they are prepared to go on without him, however that may impact them in the short run.

Plax always wants to be on the field, he always wants the ball, and seems to want to be a Giant. Now he just needs to show up and play like he means it.

Giants Juggernaut Rolls Over Seahawks

Stove Pipe — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:18:54 -0400

The New York Giants put on a display of passing, running and defense yesterday that left the Seattle Seahawks in shock and awe, and sent notice to the rest of the NFL.

The Giants were beasts, shellacking the NFC West Division leading Seahawks 44 - 6 in a game that wasn't even that close. Here are just a few of the highlights:

The Giants controlled the ball on offense for almost 37 minutes.

They had 523 total yards of total offense, the most in a victory since Oct. 8, 1967, when they gained 535 yards in a 27-21 victory over New Orleans.

Brandon Jacobs ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for another 105 on 18 carries. In all, the running game totaled 254 yards and a gaudy 7.1 yards per carry average.

Sinorice Moss and Domenik Hixon combined to make eight catches for 147 yards and three TD's. Eli Manning had one of his best games, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, and even David Carr got into the act with a TD pass to Moss to close the scoring.

John Carney continued his hot streak with three more field goals, giving him 12 straight on the year as well as adding five more extra points, putting him second in the league in scoring with 49 points.

There was no single part of the game where Seattle even competed. The Giants had 27 first downs, 11 plays that went for more than 15 yards, and had only one three and out series and two punts all day.

Beyond that, the Giants defense continued it's stellar play. They gave up a miserly 187 yards to go along with two sacks and an interception. The 187 yards was the fewest allowed by the defense since 2006.

There may never have been a Super Bowl winner who came into the following season with as little respect accorded them as this years Giants. Most experts picked them to finish third or fourth in their division, and very few projected even a playoff spot, let alone a championship. So far, they sit alone atop the NFC East and look like the team to beat in the NFC.

In response to that perceived lack of respect, these Giants are playing with a purpose. They've started this season were they left off last year, growing and playing together as a team magnificently. Everyone, even the superstars are held to the same standards. They proved as much yesterday when a suspended Plaxico Burress was hardly missed, they just plugged in another body and went about the business of stomping the Seahawks.

The rest of the NFL had better take notice. These Giants are for real.

Giants Suspend Burress for One Game

Stove Pipe — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:43:52 -0400

The New York Giants suspended wide receiver Plaxico Burress today for one game for what is being reported as "insubordination." The Giants have a bye this week and Burress will return to the team on Monday October 6th, the day after they host the Seattle Seahawks.

Burress supposedly missed work on Monday and was informed of the suspension by GM Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin in a meeting on Tuesday. Neither Burress nor the Giants have commented any further on the discipline.

Burress recently signed a two-year contract extension with the team and looked to be on track for a good season. Thus far he has caught 18 balls for 259 yards and one TD. He is coming off a career-high 12 TD catches in 2007, and also caught the game winning pass in Super Bowl XLII.

The Giants have not announced Burress's replacement in the starting lineup, but Domenik Hixon is listed behind him on the depth chart.

Besides being a dangerous kick returner, Hixon has caught six passes for a 14.8 yard average as the No. 4 receiver so far this season.

The suspension may be an opportunity for Sinorice Moss to get more playing time, and perhaps for Mario Manningham to see his first action of the season.

Eli Manning: The Ultimate Closer

Stove Pipe — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:06:10 -0400

For New York Giant fans, the scenario is starting to seem familiar. It's late in the game, and the Giants are behind. They get the ball back, and Eli Manning leads his team down the field to another come from behind victory, this time over the Cincinnati Bengals.

There have been many knocks against Eli Manning. He holds the ball too long, he forces too many passes, he isn't accurate, he'll never achieve the stats the great ones have. Hell, they even say he's not as good a quarterback as his brother, or his father for that matter.

That all may be true, but it doesn't matter. The one thing that is becoming crystal clear is that come crunch time, this guy is a stone cold killer. Of all the quarterbacks presently playing, only Brett Favre, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning have consistenty produced late game heroics like Eli has.

Give this kid the ball with two minutes left and the Giants behind by less than a touchdown and it's Katie bar the door for the opponent. In his three and a half seasons as a starter, Manning has brought home the W nine times in the fourth quarter or overtime of games for New York.

He earned his first victory as a starter with last minute heroics, a touchdown drive to beat Dallas on the final day of the 2004 season and he hasn't taken his foot off the gas since. The bigger the game, the bigger he plays. Regular season, divisional playoff or, the Super Bowl, you name it, Eli has delivered.

Everybody is starting to understand why Ernie Accorsi made the big trade to get him in 2004. Manning clearly has got "it", as Ernie was fond of saying back then.

Not to knock Ben Roethlisberger or Phillip Rivers, both great young quarterbacks from that same draft, but Eli has done something special. Against all odds he delivered on the biggest stage, in the toughest place in the world to play, when no one expected him to.

He may never have the career stats of Peyton Manning, the charisma of Tom Brady or Brett Favre, or the touchdown passes of Dan Marino, but he has already earned a place in New York Football Giants history as a leader and a winner.

The Giants After Week Two: Miles Ahead Of Last Year

Stove Pipe — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:44:28 -0400

With two weeks of this 2008 NFL season in the books, will someone please break up the New York Giants before they run away with the NFC and another Super Bowl title?

Okay, okay, I'm just kidding. Hey, a guy can dream can't he?

All kidding aside, this year's 2-0 start has Giants fans thinking playoffs again, and with good reason. Think back to this time last year, pundits and fans alike were calling for Tom Coughlin's head, as well as Steve Spagnuolo's. The defense had given up 80 points, the offense was out of sync, and prospects for any kind of successful season were looking grim.

So what makes this year's team different from last years at this point? Two words: one is confidence, the other is maturity. It's pretty amazing what a Super Bowl victory can do for a franchise.

Despite the retirement of Michael Strahan and a season ending injury to Osi Umenyiora, the entire defense is playing inspired football, and the offense, with an awesome ground attack has been a model of efficiency.

Some reasons for Giants to be optimistic about after Week Two:

First, the level of confidence and improvement the defense has shown. They've been tough against the run, holding their first two opponents to an average of 76 yards per game.

And we're not talking about a couple of bums here but Clinton Portis and Steven Jackson, a pair of Pro Bowl caliber guys. Also, despite the loss of 24 sacks from last year, the pass rush has been great with seven sacks in the two games.

But it's the play of the secondary that has provided the biggest surprise. For a unit that was supposed to be the weak link, they are giving up only 129 yards per game through the air, with a lot of that coming during garbage time.

In the second year of playing Spagnuolo's scheme, everyone seems more comfortable. They all seem to know where they're supposed to be and what they're supposed to be doing. And giving up a meager average of 205 yards per game shows that it's working.

On offense, increased maturity is the difference. Eli Manning has become the leader of this team, and the team is responding to him. His decision making has improved and he looks and acts more comfortable in the pocket, more willing than in the past to let a bad play go instead of forcing the ball.

For the receivers, Plaxico Burress is happy with his new contract and finally healthy. Through the first two weeks he is tied for second in the league with 15 receptions, and is fourth in yardage. And he isn't the only receiver defenses have to deal with. Over two games nine different players have caught passes, showing the deepest receiving corps the Giants have had in years.

But it is the running game that really powers this team. The three headed monster of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw has rushed for over 300 yards and a 5.6 yard per carry average, and they look to get better as the season wears on.

They perfectly compliment each other. Jacobs, the impossible to tackle brute at 265 pounds, Bradshaw, the speed back who gets the edge, and Ward, powerfully built like Jacobs, but with speed like Bradshaw. Teams are having a hard time dealing with and defending the completely different looks and plays each runner brings when in the lineup.

All in all, it seems clear that the Giants are miles ahead of where they were last year after two games, and improving. And while lot of people are looking past them to Dallas and Philadelphia, for my money the road to the Super Bowl runs through the Meadowlands and I ain't talking about the New York Jets.

Giants-'Skins: New York Begins the Defense of Their Super Bowl Title

Stove Pipe — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:08:17 -0400

The day New York Football Giants fans have been waiting for, the kick off of the 2008 season, has finally arrived.

The Giants are looking to jump start their 2008 campaign with a victory over the visiting Redskins, a team they split games with last year on the way to their improbable Super Bowl championship.

The Redskins are lead by Jim Zorn, their sixth head coach since 2001 and are looking to improve upon their 9-7 finish of a year ago. They want this to be the year when they begin living up to the lofty expectations of owner Dan Snyder.

This game, an early season matchup of inter-division rivals, is a study of contrasts. It pits the Giants' rushing game, downfield passing attack, and high-energy pass rush against a Redskins team searching for an identity.

They have not shown any offensive or defensive consistency during Snyder's tenure, and they need to define their football team as a force to be reckoned with.

Since being taken over by Snyder in 1999, the 'Skins have been a team in transition. He has proven to be as difficult to please as he is impatient, both with his coaches (six in nine years) and his roster.

He has consistently rolled the dice in free agency, signing superstars like Bruce Smith and Deion Sanders, while they are on the downside of their careers, in his quest for a Super Bowl championship.

The Giants, always one of the more staid and consistent franchises in the NFL have built primarily through the draft rather than free agency. With the exception of the blockbuster draft-day trade for Eli Manning, and the signing of Plaxico Burress, they have chosen to avoid high-profile quick fixes for the most part.

The 'Skins are a team with a lot of questions.

Is Jason Campbell a top-flight NFL quarterback and field general?

Can Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts become a two-headed monster in the rushing game?

Will Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El consistently move the chains down field in the passing game?

Does Jason Taylor have enough left to energize an often-mediocre pass rush and complement a very good, hard-hitting secondary?

Although they have made the playoffs two of the last three seasons, the 'Skins will need an improved effort in all quarters to be in contention in the ultra-competitive NFC East.

As for the Giants, they are beginning the season trying to recapture the magic of their improbable Super Bowl run.

It began with all of the major pieces remaing in place, minus long-time leader and sack specialist Michael Strahan. But lady luck has a way of upending the applecart sometimes.

First, Jeremy Shockey talks himself out of New York. Next, Plaxico Burress, David Tyree, Amani Toomer, and Steve Smith miss significant training camp time with injuries. Then, Osi Umenyiora suffers a season-ending knee injury.

Last year's team had and dealt with a lot of adversity. Rookies like Kevin Boss, Steve Smith, Jay Alford, and Ahmad Bradshaw all stepped up and supplied big plays when given the chance. It looks like the Giants will need the same kind of teamwork and effort if they want to repeat this year.

With a solid offensive cast, a big-play defense, and the added juice of opening the season in front of the home crowd, I think the Giants bring too much for the 'Skins to handle, and Jim Zorn goes home empty handed in his first game as head coach.

My prediction: Giants 31, Redskins 14

Putting Osi Umenyiora's Injury Into Perspective.

Stove Pipe — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:27:36 -0400

The New York Giants suffered a blow to both their defense and Super Bowl hopes Saturday evening with a season ending injury to Osi Umenyiora.

Umenyiora suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, which will sideline him for the entire 2008 season. Surgery is schedule for Tuesday August 26th, and rehabilitation should take four months.

Who does New York replace Umenyiora with?

What does his loss mean for the Giants' Super Bowl hopes?

Will the Giants make a pitch to bring Michael Strahan back from retirement?

These are all questions that Giants fans have been asking since Saturday night.

Lets take them one at a time:

Right defensive ends like Umenyiora don't grow on trees, so free agency or waivers is unlikely to yield much. That means the obvious short term move is to shift Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end, his natural position.

The Giants have Renaldo Wynn, Dave Tollefson, Wallace Gilberry, and Alex Morrow competing at defensive end. All may be capable, but none of them inspire fear like Umenyiora, nor do any have the speed and physical attributes of Kiwanuka. If one of them steps up, that's great. But for the short term, shifting Kiwanuka is what the Giants likely will do.

As far as New York's Super Bowl hopes go, I see them as slightly worse than I did prior to Saturday. A successful Super Bowl run is equal parts talent, luck, and staying healthy. Now, they're obviously not as healthy, and at a significant position to boot.

But while Umenyiora's injury diminishes the overall defensive talent, don't forget that Kiwanuka had nine sacks last year before going down with a broken leg and could go a long way to replacing Osi's sack total.

Also, since defensive ends do not have the opportunity to change the complexion of a game on every play like an offensive ball handler does, it's less devastating than losing Eli Manning for the season.

Now onto Strahan.

It's a virtual no brainer that the Giants should do everything possible to bring him back.

There is simply no one of his caliber out there to pick up or to sign off the street. He provides veteran leadership, knows and has thrived in the defensive system, and is accustomed to the coaches and players.

The real question is why would he do it?

He has a sweet gig with Fox, he finally gets to live in his L.A. beach house and seems perfectly content with retiring while on top.

Personally I don't think he will come out of retirement, so Giants fans like me are just going to have to get used to life without Strahan, and at least for this year, Umenyiora.

Injuries are part of the game and every team goes through them. Maybe we'll just have to wait and see who has the heart to step up, grab this chance and make the most out of it.

Gilberry, Wynn, Morrow, Tollefson: Are you guys listening?

2008 NBA Champion Celtics Were the Better Team All Along

Stove Pipe — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:41:24 -0400

Mercifully, the waiting is over.

After five games in which the Boston Celtics slowly clamped down the screws on Los Angeles, they opened a huge can of whoop ass Tuesday night, pasting the Lakers, 131-92, to clinch their 17th NBA championship.

For those of you who don't follow the NBA closely, it's almost impossible to put last night's game into perspective. To beat a team that soundly in every phase of the game—in a championship-clinching game no less—is hard to understand.

To win a deciding game by 39 points is like, what, winning the Indy 500 by 10 laps? Winning the World Series by throwing a perfect game? The world of sports lacks the metaphors to properly describe the Celtics' feat.

But the Celtics don't need any metaphors, and they don't need me to explain them. Plain and simple, they stomped the Lakers. Pick any part of last night's game.

Hustle? Boston by a mile.

Rebounding? Rajon Rondo by himself.

Bench? I would have taken Eddie House, James Posey, P.J. Brown, Glen Davis, and Leon Powe against the entire Laker team.

Coaching? Doc Rivers was a mile ahead of Phil Jackson all series. Turns out he had a lot more to work with, but he pulled the right triggers at the right time all series.

Defense? Please! Boston should have been arrested. They strangled the Lakers' offense like a baby in a crib.

Offense? What does 131 points in a deciding game do for you?

Did I leave anything out? The BankNorth Center probably has better concessions and bathrooms, too.

All in all, it was hard to fathom. Maybe it was just one of those nights, maybe the ghosts of Boston's past.

No chance, it's much simpler than that. The Celtics were just much better.

To attribute this butt-kicking to luck, a bad game by the Lakers, or to Auerbach, Bird, and Russell only diminishes what Doc Rivers and these Celtics achieved. They were the best team all season, and they finished the job with a statement.

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and the rest of the Celtics earned every inch of this title with their heart, tenacity, effort, and play. And they deserve every moment of attention and all of the accolades for their victory.

They made believers out of a lot of doubters this series, me included. There's nothing left to do but tip my hat to the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics.

Lakers-Celtics: Los Angeles Takes Game 5 and Now It's On To Boston

Stove Pipe — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:25:24 -0400

Game 5 is in the books and against all odds, Los Angeles is still breathing. After another attempt to boot away a game they had in hand, the Lakers held on to beat the Celtics at the Staples Center last night 103-98.

Some thoughts about last night's game and the series so far:

Starting Rajon Rondo is a luxury Doc Rivers may not be able to afford much longer. Whether it's because of his injured foot or a lack of confidence, his unwillingness to shoot is giving the Lakers a break on defense. He's rarely guarded, giving his defender the chance to sag off and clog the lane.

Rivers may need to replace him in the starting lineup with either House or Cassell, who are already playing the majority of minutes.

Outside of that, the Lakers' defense sucks. The reason for the fast starts the last two games is they haven't had to guard Rondo. They're lost on pick-and-rolls, no one can stop Pierce and they lose focus at critical times. The Lakers will need to play much better defensively than they have to win in Boston.

House and Posey continue to outplay the Lakers bench, and some of their starters. They've been stone-cold three-point shooters and have played their asses off. Posey's hustle is clearly getting under the Lakers' skin.

Odom and Gasol played better last night, both showed a toughness that had been missing. The Game 4 collapse showed me a Lakers team that checked their hearts at the door, but last night they fought back. Both Odom and Gasol will have to play tougher for the Lakers to have a realistic chance in Boston.

The model of burst out of the gate and then hold on for dear life probably won't work for the Lakers in Boston. The Celtics had their two worst shooting nights of the series in the loses in L.A., but it had little to do with L.A.'s defense. Figure the Celtics to start faster at home, putting a ton of pressure on the Lakers.

Boston's grit and determination continues to impress me. There may be some carping today about the play of Garnett and the officiating, but the Celtics where in it right until the end and almost won despite it all.

An effort that approximates last night's, coupled with a slight increase in shooting percentage looks like a Celtic win to me.

This has been an interesting series thus far, but I wouldn't call it a classic. If the Lakers can win Game 6 in Boston, the build up to Game 7 would certainly create the required drama. And if Game 7 delivered on the hype, maybe then I'd consider this series a classic.

But those are some pretty big if's.

NBA Finals: Boston Celtics Are Poised For 17th Championship

Stove Pipe — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:52:44 -0400

We can go back to our gardening, swimming, and backyard barbeques now, the NBA playoffs are over and summer's officially here.

After overcoming a 20-point second half deficit, the Boston Celtics put a fork in the Los Angeles Lakers and their championship dreams before a stunned Staples Center crowd last night.

What happened to the Lakers? The Boston Celtics is what happened. Boston exerted their will upon the series, the Lakers, and NBA history last night with comeback for the ages.

The devastating defeat puts the Lakers down 3-1 and gives Boston three games to close out their 17th NBA championship.

The way things look, it ain't gonna take that long. Even if the Celts spot the Lakers a game and a half, the outcome seems academic now.

The Lakers can't match the Celts' defensive intensity, their bench, their coach—hell, anything.

They're getting sporadic play at best from their "big three" and last night they were exposed as frauds all around. They played like a frightened and intimidated team, with no one wanting to step up and take control, Kobe included.

During a critical stretch late in the fourth quarter, Eddie House and James Posey came off the bench and hit big three-point shots for Boston.

During the same stretch for LA, Sasha Vujacic got worked by Ray Allen, mishandled a pass, threw up a brick, and called an ill-advised time out.

I hate to pick solely on Sasha, because every Laker sucked from the third quarter on, but no one else did anything of note. Besides Kobe, no one else even wanted the ball.

Everyone on Boston is contributing. Big or small, starter or bench, everyone does their job. It has become the most glaring difference in this series.

Doc Rivers and his team deserve to be commended; they came in with a plan and carried it out. They played with heart and soul, like they knew they were the better team.

Their fabulous regular season looks for all the world like it will end with another championship for the storied Celtics franchise, and Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen will go down in Celtic lore as the new big three.

They, along with all the rest of their teammates, deserve all the credit and accolades that are coming their way.

This was a great win for what is clearly the better team.

The Celtics Head to LA with a 2-0 Lead—Is it Over Already?

Stove Pipe — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:15:09 -0400

The Scene: Some football game I was watching a long time ago. The setup: Jerry Markbriet, veteran official, is getting ready to make a penalty call. He turns on the mike and is approached by a defensive lineman. The nation hears "He's holding me Jerry." Markbriet leaves the mike on and responds, "He is not, he's kicking your ass!"

That refrain rings familiar after last night's game two of the NBA Finals in Boston. After outplaying the Lakers for three quarters, the Celtics held on for a 108-102 victory last night, sending them to a 2-0 advantage in the NBA Finals. Paul Pierce was the star again with 28 points and stellar defensive play, and Rajon Rondo chipped in 16 assists on the offensive end.

Despite a lot of criticism of the officiating by Lakers fans, the Celtics are outperforming the Lakers and the officials have had little or nothing to do with it. Granted, Boston won't have an almost four to one FT attempt advantage every night, but if the series continues to go the way it has, they won't need to.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have to be thinking, what's it going to take to get back into the series? In every phase of the game, they are getting dominated or barely holding their own.

Rebounding? The Celt's are beating them on the glass.

Bench? Forget about it. Powe, Brown, and Posey are completely outplaying Farmar and Walton.

Big Three? Boston's three are getting their jobs done; only two of the Lakers three have shown up.

Phil Jackson has his work cut out for him. Doc Rivers is one step ahead of him in making adjustments and has his role players believing in themselves. Jackson seems lost as to what buttons to push.

But in the fourth quarter last night, the offense seemed to finally figure out how to play against Doc's swarm of bodies, giving him a slim reed to grab hold of. He will need to do a much better job of finding favorable matchups for his guys to have a chance.

Last night's game was a microcosm of what LA is up against. Pierce gets his shot seemingly at will. Rondo, even when he makes bad decisions, gets bailed out by guys hitting tough shots. Ray Allen has been enough of a pest to throw off Kobe's game for stretches at a time. And Boston's D is keeping everyone except Kobe and Gasol quiet on the offensive end.

Kobe has started to heat up. But as often with stars of his magnitude, the more he dominates the ball, the better chance Boston has. He can't beat the Celtics alone and they know that. Unless his teammates respond to the challenge, the Celtics will be dancing in the Staples Center this week.

Kobe is also starting to show some frustration, which he has contained all season. If Phil and the Lakers can't come up with some answers, Kobe's attitude with his teammates could well get worse.

On the bright side for LA, Kobe is working hard and had his team in position last night, coming from 22 down at eight minutes in the fourth quarter to almost winning it. But again, he can't do it alone. The Celtics I think would be content with the same scenario in games three and four and take their chances from there.

Although they may have straightened it out in Detroit, Boston's history in these playoffs has been to wilt some on the road. LA had better hope Boston wilts, or that their home court provides some sort of magical elixir. Otherwise they may need the real wilt and the real Magic to have any chance.

Joe Dumars "Flips" Flip Saunders; Pistons Need New Voice

Stove Pipe — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:56:39 -0400

You could just tell it was going to happen, and it did. Four days after losing the Eastern Conference Finals to Boston in six games, Flip Saunders is out of his job as head coach of the Detroit Pistons.

That Saunders couldn't get it done, or is not being allowed to see if he can get it done, may be surprising but not shocking. It follows somewhat the pattern which began in Minnesota. After a good run with the T-Wolves in which he led them to a conference final, the team tuned him out.

But unlike in Minnesota, where the team regressed after that, Saunders was able to keep the Pistons focused enough to compile the second best record in the league this year.

But a lot more was expected of Detroit and I think rightfully so. The Pistons have been right at the edge of the promised land for three years under Saunders and haven't gotten it done. Something had to give and predictably, in the NBA, it was the coach's job.

Joe Dumars has gathered an incredibly talented roster with maybe the most well rounded starting five in the league. There are tough match-ups everywhere, good rebounding, great defense and a strong bench.

But you could just tell something was amiss.

The Pistons didn't have one great game in the conference finals against Boston. They played well in their two victories and almost made comebacks in two others, but never played what one could call a great game. They just never seemed driven, never seemed to have that fire they exhibited when winning in 2004.

Is coaching the only problem here?

Probably not.

Injuries to Hamilton and Billups obviously hurt and I thought would have mitigated against a Saunders' firing. Age is also starting to show a little. Rasheed's temper tantrums were as always a distraction but no more so than usual.

So, in the end it comes back to the coach. And most unfortunately for Saunders, he had to follow Larry Brown. Flip was always going to lose that comparison, unless of course he won a championship with the same bunch.

I think that Dumars is one of the brightest executives in the league and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in this case. I just hope he takes stock of the fact that the league has gotten better, and if he stands pat with this squad, he'll be looking for another new coach again real soon.

It wasn't just the coach that lost to the Celtics, it was the whole team.

Renaldo Wynn Signs with New York Giants

Stove Pipe — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:49:43 -0400

The New York Giants' talented stable of pass rushers got a boost with the signing of Renaldo Wynn, a 12-year veteran defensive end who played the last four years in Washington.

Wynn, a former first-round draft pick of Tom Coughlin's in Jacksonville, has a reputation as a solid run-stopper, to go along with 25 career sacks. He joins an already full house of veteran D-ends in the Meadowlands, including Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Dave Tollefson, as well as Michael Strahan if he decides to return for another year. The Giants also have seventh-round draft pick Robert Henderson and rookie free-agents Wallace Gilberry and Alex Morrow rounding out the competition for roster spots this summer.

Adding to the embarrassment of riches is former first-round pick Mathias Kiwanuka, who has been moved to outside linebacker, but could be moved back to end if Strahan retires or if Gerris Wilkerson, Danny Clark, and Bryan Kehl work out at OLB.

Wynn's versatility makes him an especially good fit for New York's defense. He can also play tackle, making him a perfect fit for D-Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's schemes. Spagnuolo's system employs a withering pass rush, using three and sometimes four defensive ends to create matchup nightmares for offensive linemen and coordinators.

Adding a durable veteran like Wynn who can play both positions may also allow the Giants to stash a couple of youngsters on the developmental squad, without sacrificing depth, or playing guys before they're ready.

Wynn's sack total is almost sure to rise this year, playing next to the likes of Umenyiora, Tuck, and hopefully Strahan, all whom will draw more attention and double teams, leaving him one-on-one a lot.

Spagnuolo will surely design some special packages to utilize Wynn's 6'3" 285 pound frame, much like the way he used Tuck's quickness as an interior rusher last year.

Renaldo Wynn looks like he could be another gem for Jerry Reese, Tom Coughlin, and the Giants' personnel department. The rich are seemingly getting richer, and opposing QBs, especially in the NFC East, just might be getting a whole lot sorer.