Bleacher Report - Articles by Jeremy Kaufman

NFL 2009 Midseason Awards

Jeremy Kaufman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:45:24 -0500

Now that we have officially reached the midseason mark of the 2009 NFL season, I will now present my selections for all of the major NFL awards at this point in the NFL season:

MVP: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts, QB)

His great head coach is gone. His Hall of Fame wide receiver is gone. His defense was supposed to be too small. His kicker is out with an injury.

And yet, Peyton Manning has led his team to an undefeated record at the midway point in the season. I won’t even list his numbers, because as good as they are they don’t even do him justice.

Peyton Manning is the NFL’s MVP, and may one day be recognized as the best quarterback of all time.

Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Schaub (Houston Texans, QB)

This is absolutely no question that Matt Schaub is the most underrated player in the NFL today. Currently, he leads the league with 2,653 passing yards, and his 17 passing touchdowns and 98.1 passer rating are right along the top as well.

He’ll lose out on the MVP award largely because of what Peyton Manning means to his team, but it can be argued that no quarterback has played better than Matt Schaub thus far in the season.

Defensive Player of the Year: Darren Sharper (New Orleans Saints, FS)

He leads the league with seven interceptions and has completely transformed the New Orleans Saints defense. That looks like a defensive player of the year to me.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Josh Cribbs (Cleveland Browns, KR/WR)

In 2009 thus far, Josh Cribbs has put together one of the most well rounded special teams performances in recent memory.

As of this date, Cribbs has recorded a touchdown on both a kick return and punt return, as well as three tackles as a gunner on special teams. Not to mention, Cribbs has managed to do all of this while playing wide receiver and wild cat quarterback at the same time.

What more could you ask the guy to do?

Rookie of the Year: Jairus Byrd (Buffalo Bills, FS)

Talk about name discrimination.

While Darren Sharper is making a name for himself as the best defensive player in the league this year due to his big time interceptions, Byrd has just as many picks as Sharper and only three less tackles. This award belongs to Byrd, hands down.

Comeback Player of the Year: Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings, QB)

Despite having a comeback of sorts last year, there is no question that Brett Favre did not meet his lofty expectations by season’s end. However, with 16 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions thus far on the season, Favre is suddenly having one of the best seasons of his career.

If Brett can hold up through the end of the season, this award is his.

Breakout Player of the Year: Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals, RB)

Last year, Cedric Benson was being looked at as a monumental bust after being released by the Bears several years after his first round selection in the NFL draft. However, things have changed since his arrival in Cincinnati, as Benson now boasts 837 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns at the half way point in the season.

I don’t think anyone would have said this at the beginning of the season, but expect to see Benson in the Pro Bowl as season’s end.

New York Giants Trivia 2K10: Week 1

Jeremy Kaufman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:57:11 -0400

That’s right, football trivia on Bleacher Report. Each and every week of the NFL season, I will publish a 10 question quiz on the New York Giants as well as other extraneous NFL related topics. To play, leave your answers in a comment to the article.

By the next week, the answers to the questions will be published, and the fan who answers the most questions correct will be recognized in that article. Also, just to add a little incentive to the game, I will add the winner of each week’s trivia as a fan. Ok, let the games begin!

1) What college did Eli Manning attend?

a) Missouri

b) Ole Miss

c) LSU

d) Indiana

2) Which New York Giants player was ranked the highest on the Sporting News’ Top 100 players of all time list?

a) Phil Simms

b) Tiki Barber

c) Harry Carson

d) Lawrence Taylor

3) Which New York Giants’ offensive lineman has won a league MVP award at the NFL level?

a) David Diehl

b) Chris Snee

c) Mel Hein

d) No Giants’ offensive lineman has ever won the MVP

4) Which New York Giants’ player currently has a son playing Division 1 football?

a) Jeff Feagles

b) Lawrence Tynes

c) Shaun O’hara

d) Rocky Bernard

5) Prior to the arrival of Madison Hedgecock, who was the starting fullback for the New York Giants?

a) Brandon Jacobs

b) Reuben Droughns

c) Jim Finn

d) Darci Johnson

6) Who was the final draft pick of the New York Giants in the 2009 NFL draft?

a) Ryan Succop

b) DeAndre Wright

c) Stoney Woodson

d) Bruce Johnson

7) Which quarterback of the Manning family did not attend the same college as the other two?

a) Archie Manning

b) Peyton Manning

c) Eli Manning

d) They all attended the same college

8) Who is the tallest wide receiver on the New York Giants’ roster?

a) Hakeem Nicks

b) Ramses Barden

c) Mario Mannigham

d) Domenik Hixon

9) What alternate position does Justin Tuck occasionally play on third-down situations?

a) Defensive Tackle

b) Middle Linebacker

c) Outside Linebacker

d) Strong Safety

10) What college did long snapper Zak DeOssie attend?

a) Ole Miss

b) Brown

c) Texas

d) Florida

Good luck in this week’s trivia! Don’t forget to submit your answers in the form of a comment at the bottom of this article. Thanks for playing!

If Lebron Chose A Different Sport, How Would He Fare?

Jeremy Kaufman — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:24:59 -0400

Regardless of how you feel about his hype and his antics, there is little debate that Lebron James is among the most physically gifted athletes in history. At 6’8" and 260 pounds, Lebron is a gargantuan young man who possesses the speed and agility of a point guard in the body of a power forward.

However, as fascinating as Lebron’s versatility on the basketball court may be, I find it even more intriguing just how reasonably Lebron’s natural talents could potentially translate to other pro sports. With that said, I will now take the time to assess exactly what Lebron’s potential would be in several other team sports.

Baseball

While Lebron has never competed in baseball at a serious level, I do see him having some potential in the game as a right fielder. With his height and leaping ability, Lebron could potentially become the greatest home run-robbing threat in the history of the game.

Furthermore, his natural size and hand-eye coordination would allow him to become a serious home run hitter, although a great deal of practice would inevitably be necessary before he could ever touch major league pitching. Also, his basketball court speed should translate well to the basepaths, and his very long arms would generally allow him to beat out tags when stealing a base. All in all, Lebron would have the potential to become a five-tool player, but he would have to put in a lot of effort to adapt to the game first.

Football

Unlike baseball, Lebron actually has a great deal of experience with the game of football. As a high school football player, Lebron was one of the most dominant wide receivers in his state, fielding quite a few offers from top colleges his senior year.

Lebron James would be, by far, the largest wide receiver in the history of the National Football League. Even more importantly, the cornerbacks that he would be matching up against would generally average in at around 5’9" and 180 pounds, thereby giving Lebron a ridiculously unfair size advantage.

If Lebron were to get his hands on the ball, any cornerback in the league would be almost incapable of stopping him. This advantage, combined with his leaping ability in jump ball situations, his massive hands, and the damage he can do as a blocker to defensive backs at 260 pounds, make it reasonable to say that Lebron could have gone down as one of the greatest football players of all time.

Hockey

As you would guess, Lebron hasn’t exactly accumulated a great deal of experience in a hockey player in his life. However, his physical talents would translate well to the game as a power-type forward. Lebron could force his way to the goal and then wait for easy rebounds and tap them in for quick goals.

Also, if his passing and vision translate well from the court to the ice, he would likely rack up quite a few assists as well. Furthermore, his massive size combined with his speed should allow him to do some serious damage to the opposition on defense if they lose sight of where he is playing. In conclusion, while Lebron’s fit in hockey isn’t too realistic considering his lack of experience, I definitely feel he would have had pro potential in the sport should he have committed to it from a young age.

Soccer

As a soccer player, I believe Lebron could become an absolute star. In a sport that featuers typical players topping out at six feet, James could absolutely dominate at the forward position. By positioning himself around the goal on corner kicks and other heading situations, Lebron would almost always win the battle, thereby allowing him to rack up more goals just by his head than almost any player in history.

Furthermore, his physique and athletic talents would likely allow him to be competitive in other aspects of the game as well, especially at passing. If I was a Major League Soccer team right now, I would do everything in my power to sign Lebron during his offseason, even if it is just for a month. I would sell the move to him by stating it’ll further help him become a global icon in the marketing world, as soccer is the largest sport in the world. Lebron soccer jerseys would be sold everywhere, and he would become the greatest international star in sports while still being able to play in the NBA without conflict. Now that’s marketing.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse is the fastest-growing team sport in the U.S. today, and a player like Lebron would be perfect for the game. As an attacker Lebron would have a clear size advantage over every single one of his opponents. All he would have to do is cut to the crease from behind, and then catch the ball and dump it in for an easy goal. Furthermore, Lebron’s vision and passing abilities should allow him to pass out of double and triple-teams for the assist when the time for it comes. While the sport clearly couldn’t currently offer him enough money or allure to ever get him to play, I would love to see him give the game a try, even if it just was for promotional purposes.

Rugby

I can absolutely say without a doubt that there is no major team sport on Earth as rough and tough as rugby. (Calcio Fiorentino is rougher, but that game definitely isn’t considered major.) In rugby, players completely demolish each other without pads, and the play doesn’t even end when the ball carrier gets tackled. While Lebron may not necessarily have the stomach to play rugby, his physical abilities could potentially make him a great lock. At this position, Lebron’s size would actually be quite normal. However, his speed would likely excel that of most other locks, thereby allowing him to be a playmaker from a position that typically is more known for its bruisers and ball winners.

Cricket

While there is certainly no guarantee that Lebron can swing well enough to hit a cricket ball, his long arms and muscle strength would definitely help his cause. Furthermore, his massive hands would compensate for the fact that you don’t wear any gloves in the field in cricket. When bowling, his physical attributes would likely allow him to do so successfully, although he would definitely require some training first. All in all, Lebron has the physical and athletic tools to be a cricket player, be he would need to develop them before he could become any good.

So there you have it. Lebron may be one of the best basketball players in the game today, but he certainly has some potential in other team sports. So, if Lebron wasn’t playing basketball today, which sport would you want to see him in?

If Kickball Was a Pro Sport, Which Athletes Would Play?

Jeremy Kaufman — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:46:30 -0400

In previous articles, I have opened the discussion into which athletes would participate in the fictional sport of quidditch and the playground favorite sport of dodgeball, should either of the aforementioned sports ever somehow develop a professional league. With that said, in the 3rd installment of this unusual series, I will name my starting lineup for a kickball team consisting entirely of currently active professional athletes. Just to make things more interesting, I will only allow myself to choose one athlete from any given sport. Enjoy!

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Breaking News: David Ortiz Tested Positive For Steroids

Jeremy Kaufman — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:47:55 -0400

That’s right. ESPN has just confirmed that Red Sox designated hitter was among the more than 100 Major League Baseball players to test positive for steroids in 2003.

While the test was intended to be both voluntary and confidential at the time, several key names have already been leaked from that infamous list, including the name of New York Yankees’ star Alex Rodriguez.

The news that David Ortiz was identified as a steroid user was released alongside information that Manny Ramirez tested positive for steroids in 2003 as well, thereby indicating that Ramirez’s steroid use was long term and therefore likely had a profound impact on his career while with the Red Sox.

While I would like to avoid placing any bias into my writing as a result of my Yankee allegiance, the news that both of the Red Sox’ star players from their championship runs were aided by performance enhancing drugs certainly seems to place a black eye on the team’s once historic achievements.

If Dodgeball Was a Pro Sport, Which Athletes Would Play?

Jeremy Kaufman — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:30:46 -0400

Yes, we all know and love the game of dodgeball. For many of us, dodgeball was the game that we grew up on; a game in which only the strong survive and the weak are bound to perish. Furthermore, dodgeball is a game that epitamizes the true athlete, is it requires strength, speed, stamina, coordination, hands, quickness, footwork, and courage to play. However, in spite of dodgeball's popularity as a youth sport within the United States, there has never even been any serious talk of the formation of a professional league. Therefore, I will take it upon myself to catalyze the discussion with this hypothetical question: if a professional dodgeball league was formed today, which current professional athletes would have the tools for success? Here is my starting six:

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Handing Out the American League Midseason Awards

Jeremy Kaufman — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:43:12 -0400

After carefully assessing the performances of all worthy candidates through the first half of the Major League Baseball season, here are my choices for each American League Award:

MVP: Mark Teixeira (New York Yankees)

Texeira’s all-around game has fueled the Bronx Bombers to a two game lead over the Boston Red Sox.

Cy Young: Roy Halladay (Toronto Blue Jays)

Not only does Doc dominate his competition, but he stays in the ball game longer than any other pitcher of his era.

Rookie Of The Year: Ricky Romero (Toronto Blue Jays)

Ricky may be only a rookie, but he’s pitching like an ace already.

Comeback Player Of The Year: Jorge Posada (New York Yankees)

Jorge has come back from an injury plagued season in which he hit only three home runs, to put forth a very productive season—both offensively and defensively—for the Yankees.

Gold Gloves

Catcher: Gerald Laird (Detroit Tigers)

Simply stated, he’s throwing out more runners than anyone else in the league.

First Base: Mark Teixeira (New York Yankees)

His heroics with the mitt are a major reason why the Yanks find themselves in first place.

Second Base: Robinson Cano (New York Yankees)

Cano has simply been brilliant in every aspect of defensive play.

Third Base: Brandon Inge (Detroit Tigers)

His defensive statistics don’t do justice for the walking web gem that is Brandon Inge.

Shortstop: Jason Bartlett (Tampa Bay Rays)

Bartlett’s efficient play at shortstop has provided dividends for a strong Rays team.

Left Field: Carl Crawford (Tampa Bay Rays)

He may be a left fielder, but he has more range than almost any center fielder in the game today.

Center Field: Torri Hunter (Los Angeles Angels)

Hunter is one of the greatest center fielders of his era, and this season is no exception.

Right Field: Ichiro Suzuki: (Seattle Mariners)

Ichiro’s combination of great range and a cannon arm makes him one of the most dangerous defensive presences in baseball.

Pitcher: Mariano Rivera (New York Yankees)

It’s about time for this man to be paid his due. He may have been stripped of consideration for this award in the past because he is a closer, but the fact is that Mariano is one of the greatest-fielding pitchers of all time.

Silver Sluggers:

Catcher: Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins)

Joe’s chase to end the season with a .400 batting average alone earns him this award.

First Base: Mark Teixeira (New York Yankees)

Despite starting the season slow, Mark has been batting with unbelievable power and clutch.

Second Base: Aaron Hill (Toronto Blue Jays)

Hill’s home run total is unworldly for a second baseman.

Third Base: Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays)

Longoria is slowly becoming one of the best players in baseball today.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)

Despite getting up there in age, Derek is putting together a vintage season with the bat.

Outfield: Nelson Cruz (Texas Rangers)

Cruz is hitting the ball harder and farther than any other American League outfielder.

Outfield: Jason Bay (Boston Red Sox)

Jason Bay has done an excellent job filling the void left by Manny Ramirez.

Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners)

Ichiro is once again leading the league with an inhuman batting average.

Designated Hitter: Adam Lind (Toronto Blue Jays)

He missed playing in the All-Star game, in large part because the home ball park was aligned with the National League. But all in all, Adam Lind is the best young DH in the game today.

If Quidditch Was A Real Sport, Which Athletes Would Play?

Jeremy Kaufman — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:54:10 -0400

In honor of the upcoming new Harry Potter movie, I felt that it would only be appropriate to dedicate an article to Quidditch, the ficitional sport that is depicted throughout the popular book and movie series. Therefore, in this article I will put forth a hypothetical scenario: imagine that Quidditch suddenly became an actual sport, and a new team was recruting the world's top athletes to play. Who should be selected for this challenge? Here are my picks:

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Is Brett Gardner Better Than Jacoby Ellsbury?

Jeremy Kaufman — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:20:05 -0400

Jacoby Ellsbury, the young center fielder for the Boston Red Sox, is regarded around the league as one of the great young players in Major League Baseball today.

While Jacoby is still developing as a baseball player, his offensive repertoire currently consists of a swing that is prone towards contact, a batting average that generally hovers around .300, and the potential to develop legitimate power as he grows older.

Also, it should be noted that Jacoby is considered to be among the fastest players in the league, and his stolen base total is consistent with that notion.

Brett Gardner, the center fielder for the New York Yankees, does not quite possess the same accolades as Jacoby Ellsbury.

He is a 25-year-old rookie, only a part-time starter in the Yankee outfield, and he generally hasn’t been regarded as a top-tier prospect throughout his ascent to the big leagues.

So, that means Jacoby Ellsbury must be a better baseball player than Brett Gardner, right? Actually, I do not believe that to be the case.

In fact, upon a careful analysis of each player’s respective stats along with the potential that is displayed through their game tapes, I hypothesize that it will be shown that Brett Gardner is indeed the better baseball player.

So, let’s begin our analysis by examining the statistics of each respective player. As of this date, Brett Gardner has a .286 batting average, three home runs, and 18 stolen bases in 182 at bats.

Jacoby Ellsbury, on the other hand, has a .301 batting average, five home runs, and 38 stolen bases in 326 at bats.

After taking a quick glance at the numbers, it may appear that Ellsbury is the statistically superior athlete.

However, it should be noted that Ellsbury has accumulated his statistics through nearly twice as many at bats, thereby alluding to the possibility that Gardner could put together just as good if not better statistics if given equal playing time.

So, how would Brett Gardner’s statistics look if they were projected across the same number of at bats as Ellsbury? Well, we can calculate this by multiplying Gardner’s totals by 1.79, a number reached by dividing Ellsbury’s 326 at bats by Gardner’s 182.

After projecting Gardner’s home run totals in accordance with this calculation, Gardner is left with five home runs, the exact same amount as Jacoby himself. When projecting Gardner’s stolen base totals through the same calculation, he is left with 32 stolen bases; only a mere six behind Boston’s Ellsbury.

After assessing the two players’ statistics post projection, they appear much more equal than previously thought. Given the same number of at bats, Gardner would likely have just as many home runs as Ellsbury, and only about 6 fewer stolen bases.

While Ellsbury would still have a slightly higher batting average than Gardner, Brett’s on base percentage of .358 is slightly better than Jacoby’s current on base percentage of .350.

For leadoff hitters, on-base percentage is generally a more important statistical barometer, as the primary goal for a player in this role is to get on base by any means possible.

Therefore, it would not be out of line for someone to suggest that Brett Gardner is just as good if not better than Jacoby Ellsbury in respect to their offensive capabilities.

Now that a statistical assessment of each player’s offensive achievements have been established, it is now time to look at each player’s defensive repertoire.

While a player’s defense is very difficult to assess via statistics, there may be no more important statistic for a center fielder than range factor.

Range factor is a statistic that is essentially meant to rate a player’s approximate range in comparison to other player’s of that same position. As of this date, Ellsbury’s official range factor is a 2.32.

While this number certainly isn’t bad, it is significantly trumped by Gardner’s 2.60 range factor, thereby suggesting that Gardner covers more ground in the outfield than Ellsbury.

Furthermore, extraneous fielding statistics such as fielding percentage and outfield assists are essentially equivalent for the two players, thereby indicating that Jacoby does not exhibit any defensive skills that Brett doesn’t possess.

While it may be somewhat unfair to assess a player solely on their statistical achievements, I believe that the game tape is consistent with the aforementioned assessments.

At the plate, both players are light but effective hitters who can wreak havoc if given the chance on the base paths.

Furthermore, each player is an above-average center fielder with an average but suitable arm for the position.

Although Jacoby Ellsbury has the reputation as being an up-and-coming star in the Major Leagues, it may be time for the baseball community to realize that Brett Gardner isn’t so far behind after all.

Breaking News: New York Knicks Acquire No. 29 Draft Pick

Jeremy Kaufman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:38:19 -0400

It’s official. The New York Knicks have acquired the No. 29 overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft from the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to ESPN, the pick was purchased from the Lakers for a total of $3 million dollars—a relative bargain for a first round draft pick.

For the Los Angeles Lakers, this transaction will allow the reigning NBA champs to remain at status quo while at the same time reserving roster space for developmental projects such as the 6’9" point guard from China, Sun Yue.

As for the New York Knicks, this move will allows the team to acquire a solid NBA prospect without giving up any players or draft picks in return. I predict that the New York Knicks will consider utilizing this pick on 6’6" guard from Florida, Nick Calathes.

Calathes, who has signed with a European team since completing his collegiate career, will have the option of remaining overseas for a season or two, thereby allowing the Knicks more roster flexibility as well as a little more space in their salary cap.

Overall, this transaction looks to be a solid move for both teams involved in the deal.

Final Mock Draft 2009

Jeremy Kaufman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:23:48 -0400

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin (PF)

The ultra-athletic workhorse out of Oklahoma is sure to go at No. 1.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: Hasheem Thabeet (C)

Thabeet would give the Grizzlies a defensive presence at center for the next 10 years.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyreke Evans (PG/SG)

Evans could step in immediately as a force at shooting guard, while spelling Westbrook at point guard when necessary.

4. Sacramento Kings: Ricky Rubio (PG)

Rubio would provide the Kings with a franchise point guard.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves*: James Harden (SG)

Harden would give the Timberwolves the scoring that they desparately need.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Stephen Curry (PG)

Curry is a pin- point shooter and projects to be an excellent NBA point guard.

7. Golden State Warriors: Demar DeRozan (SG)

DeRozan would provide the Warriors with up-tempo scoring that should fit well into their offensive system.

8. New YorkKnicks: Jonny Flynn (PG)

Flynn would give the Knicks an ultra-athletic point guard who should immediately become a fan favorite.

9. Toronto Raptors: James Johnson (SF/PF)

Johnson a solid and versatile forward that should help solve the mess in Toronto.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jordan Hill (PF)

Hill is an athletic power forward who can be considered a steal at No. 10.

11. New Jersey Nets: Terrence Williams (SG/SF)

Williams is essentially a point forward who should do wonders for the New Jersey offense.

12. Charlotte Bobcats: Tyler Hansbrough (PF)

At No. 12, Jordan will stick to his Tar heel roots and draft a fellow UNC alum.

13. Indiana Pacers: Ty Lawson (PG)

Lawson will give the Pacers an excellent point guard with great leadership skills on and off the floor.

14. Phoenix Suns: Earl Clark (SF/PF)

Earl Clark is an athletic and versatile forward—a perfect fit for the Phoenix system.

15. Detroit Pistons: B.J. Mullens (C)

Mullens would give the Pistons a presence at center and allow Wallace to move back to power forward.

16. Chicago Bulls: Sam Young (SF)

Young is a solid perimeter scorer who should provide immediate help to the Bulls.

17. Philadelphia 76ers: Brandon Jennings (PG)

Jennings was once predicted to be a top five draft pick, and if he proves his critics wrong, he will be an absolute steal for the 76ers.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jeff Teague (PG/SG)

Teague is a solid combo guard that should be a nice building block in the Minnesota.

19. Atlanta Hawks: Austin Daye (SF)

At 6’11", Daye is a raw but freakishly gifted small forward who could blossom into a star in Atlanta.

20. Utah Jazz: Taj Gibson (PF)

A solid player for a solid team.

21. New Orleans Hornets: Eric Maynor (PG)

Maynor would provide Paul with a very solid backup at the point guard position.

22. Dallas Mavericks: Dejuan Blair (PF)

Blair would provide the Mavericks with the toughness that they sorely need.

23. Sacramento Kings: DeMarre Carroll (SG)

A scorer for a team that needs as much of it as it can get.

24. PortlandTrailblazers: Darren Collison (PG)

Collison is a very solid point guard prospect, but needs time to develop.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder: Gerald Henderson (SG)

Very solid scorer who should add depth to this developing team.

26. Chicago Bulls: Chase Budinger (SG/SF)

More perimeter help for the Bulls.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: Jonas Jerebko (SF/PF)

The Grizzlies should look to take on more of a project with this pick.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rodrigue Beaubois (PG)

A foreign point guard who can potentially play overseas longer before joining the Wolves.

29. New York Knicks: Nick Calathes (PG)

A 6’6" point guard from Florida who can also potentially play overseas before joining team, thereby alleviating the Knicks of some salary cap space.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Omri Casspi (SF/PF)

Potential perimeter help for Lebron James.

10 Questions For Nate Robinson Of The New York Knicks

Jeremy Kaufman — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:36:42 -0400

Within the past couple of years, the diminutive Nate Robinson has slowly become a fan favorite amongst the Madison Square Garden faithful. While many have doubted both his maturity as well as his ability to adapt to the physical style of play at the NBA level, Nate’s ability to rise above both his criticism as well as other forms of adversity has given him an appeal to the average NBA fan that few other players have the privilege to have. With that said, I would now like to present 10 questions that, should I ever be given the opportunity, I would ask Nate Robinson in order to gain a greater understanding of him as a man both on and off the court.

1) As I’m sure you know, the media has often speculated that you are indeed even shorter than the 5’9 at which you are listed. With that said, how tall are you really?

2) Judging from the naked eye, your leaping ability seems to be unlike any that the NBA has ever seen before. Approximately how high is your vertical leap?

3) How much of your athletic ability do you attribute to hard work and practice, and how much would you attribute to pure talent?

4) You have previously stated in interviews that you would like to strive to become one of the greatest players of all time. How close do you realistically believe you can come to that ultimate goal?

5) Thus far in your NBA career, you have been utilized both at the point guard and shooting guard positions. Which position do you prefer more, and why?

6) Without a doubt, not many young men of your height and stature grow up believing that playing in the NBA will one day be an attainable goal. At what age did you and your family seriously start to believe that you would have such an opportunity?

7) While you are well renowned around the NBA for your dunking ability, it is quite rare to actually see you dunk during a game. Why is that?

8) There have been games in the past season in which you have accumulated as many as 10 rebounds a game. Do you believe rebounding can become a significant strength in your game in the near future?

9) In your youth, which NBA players, if any, did you model your game after? Are there any current NBA players whom you still utilize as an example as to how you should play the game?

10) I understand that in your high school days you were a legitimate talent in football as well as basketball. If you had chosen to pursue a career in football instead of basketball, where do you think you would be today? Are there any other sports at which you excel?

Should The New York Giants Trade For Anquan Boldin?

Jeremy Kaufman — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:22:43 -0400

Ever since the premature ejection of the New York Giants from the NFL playoffs last season, there has been one looming question on the mind of each and every fan of the Big Blue; should the team make a trade for All-Pro wide receiver Anquan Boldin?

This is a tough question that no single individual can answer with absolute certainty, as the great benefits to enacting such a move are matched almost symmetrically with equally potent deterrents. Therefore, I will now assess the pros and cons of such a trade in an attempt to definitively determine whether or not the New York Giants should trade for Anquan Boldin.

The Pros

The pros for trading for Anquan Boldin are relatively obvious. First of all, Anquan is arguably one of the top three wide receivers in the NFL today.

Furthermore, at only 28-years old, Anquan is still in the prime of his career and would likely provide Eli Manning with the game-breaking receiver that he has missed since the departure of Plaxico Burress.

In addition to his great hands and ability to excel in traffic, Anquan is an above average run blocker and would aid the Big Blue running backs in reaching the outside and breaking away for big gains.

It should also be noted that Anquan Boldin played quarterback in college and as a result, he could certainly be utilized in the wildcat formation should Tom Coughlin opt to incorporate it into his offensive scheme.

The Cons

In spite of the incredible gains that await the Giants should they make a trade for Anquan Boldin, the cons of such a deal should certainly be noted.

First off, the primary reason why the Giants are searching for a new star receiver in the first place is because the previous incumbent to the position displayed character and discipline issues that made his presence on the New York Giants football team a distraction.

Unfortunately, Anquan is beginning to exude some similar character traits. While no aspect of Anquan Boldin’s behavior has ever ventured into the criminal realm like Mr. Burress, Boldin’s selfish and unrelenting demand for a new lofty contract is the very type of distraction that the New York Giants want to avoid.

While Anquan’s talent does warrant additional value to the salary with which he is currently provided, the demands that he has put forth since the end of last season are too hefty for the Cardinals to cope with. Even with his All-Pro quarterback, Kurt Warner, offering to give up money in order to assist in compensating Boldin, the finances still simply haven’t checked out in a manner that would be sufficed for Anquan Boldin.

Not only does this serve as a red flag in respect to Anquan’s character traits, but it also suggested that the New York Giants may not be able to financially afford him. In the past several years, the Giants have had success largely because they have acquired quality players who are willing to play with contracts that will keep the team comfortably under the salary cap.

However, with the addition of Anquan Boldin, it would become incredibly hard to sign him to an extended contract without breaking the bank beyond repair. In addition, any New York Giants fans who followed the Cardinals during last year’s playoffs have witnessed the bickering that went on between Anquan and his offensive coordinator.

Do the Giants really need a receiver who is that tough to get along with? Shockey and Burress both received their pink slips for a similar reason. Therefore, I do not think that a trade for Boldin would be the prudent move to make.

Finally, it should also be noted that the Giants would have to compensate the Cardinals quite heavily in order to obtain Boldin. After all, 28-year old football players don’t grow on trees, and the Cards would likely require as much as two first-round picks in order to complete such a deal.

Between the high compensation requirements, heavy contract demands, and ever illuminant contract issues that inheritably come with the acquisition of Anquan Boldin, would it really be worth it to trade for him?

As much as I would like to see him in a Big Blue uniform, the logistics of the case simply indicate that it wouldn’t be wise for the Giants to pursue any such trade. At least under the current set of circumstances that the Giants are presented with.

Why the New York Knicks Need Marcin Gortat

Jeremy Kaufman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:17:05 -0400

Upon asking a typical New York Knicks fan what players the team needs to obtain via free agency, the usual suspects will be mentioned in no time: Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. However, the key to success for the Knickerboxers may very well be taller, more affordable, and much more foreign than any of the three aforementioned players.

The man whom I am referring to is Marcin Gortat, and this is why the New York Knicks must sign him this offseason.

While the Knicks’ record may not be a clear indicator of this, the Knicks actually have a pretty solid team put together. As of this current time, the Knicks’ rosters boasts rebounding machine David Lee, game breaker Nate Robinson, defensive stopper Jared Jeffries, and all around talent Wilson Chandler, not to mention several other players who likely have bright futures in the NBA.

However, the Knicks are sorely missing one key thing that, if obtained, can potentially make their team a playoff contender. What the New York Knicks need is a true center who can provide the team with a post presence on offense while closing down the inside lanes on defense.

Marcin Gortat would fill this role admirably. At 6’11" and 240 pounds, Gortat possesses the size and talent to make an impact on both ends of the court. While his statistics are severely limited due to playing behind superstar center Dwight Howard, Gortat has the potential to average as many as 15 points per game as a starter, as seen during the brief times in which Howard was unable to go in 2009. Furthermore, Gortat has solid rebounding and shot blocking ability, and his international style of play fits perfectly into coach Mike D’Antoni’s unique run and gun system of play.

Marcin Gortat’s game seems to fit well with the New York Knicks, but what are the chances the Knicks will actually sign him?

Well, the chances are better than what you would think.

First of all, Gortat has publicly announced recently that his preference would be to come play for the New York Knicks. Furthermore, he has also publicly stated that he strongly dislikes coach Van Gundy on the Magic, and that he was essentially looking forward to leaving the team as a result. Therefore, it is safe to say that he won’t be resigning in Orlandoany time soon.

So, he’s a solid center, and he wants to play for us, but does Knicks management want him? I think they do. As of 2009, Gortat is currently earning less than a million dollars a season. Since Gortat isn’t exactly a proven commodity yet in the NBA, he will likely be sufficed with as little as five million a year to become the starting center for the New York Knicks.

Therefore, even though the Knicks are being salary conscious in their efforts to land LeBron James in 2010, a simple cost- benefit analysis would clearly indicate that signing Marcin Gortat would be beneficial towards the ambitions of the team.

And so, the talk of New York basketball will likely continue to center around the likes of LeBron James and maybe Stephen Curry as we pass through yet another basketball offseason. However, I for one will anxiously await the decision of polish center Marcin Gortat, hoping that the Knicks are fortunate enough to land this diamond in the rough.

An Analysis Of The Long Island Lizards' Starting Attack

Jeremy Kaufman — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:09:14 -0400

With the 2009 Major League Lacrosse season now several weeks deep, the Long Island Lizards have revealed themselves to possess among the most dangerous attacking units in recent memory. With that said, here is a quick look at the three men who have made the Long Island Lizards’ offense so potent and lethal in 2009:

1. Matt Danowski Goals: 5 Assists: 8

This young attackman out of Duke was a superstar at the collegiate level, and thus far his left handed shot has made a solid transition in the professional ranks. Danowski balances out his shooting prowess with solid ball handling skills and effective passing, thereby making him a versatile weapon on the offensive end of the field.

2. Zach Greer: Goals: 10 Assists: 2

Despite only being a rookie with a mere three games under his belt, Zach Greer has emerged onto the scene as one of the most dangerous attackmen in the MLL. Zach, who was drafted out of Bryant University after transferring from Duke, is a natural scorer who may very well find himself in the rookie of the year discussion as well as the league MVP discussion by season’s end.

3. Tim Goettelmann Goals: 7 Assists: 2

At 6’3" and 217 pounds, Tim gives the Lizards the large physical presence that the Lizards need to generate offense around the goal. While Tim might not boast quite the same pedigree as the two aforementioned Lizard attackmen, his size and strength make for the perfect compliment to the Long Island offense.

10 Tips To Draft the Perfect Madden Franchise

Jeremy Kaufman — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:40:14 -0400

If you are a fan of the NFL, the chances are that you play Madden. For the remote few of you who may not be familiar with the game, Madden is the popular video game series that carries the namesake of former NFL Head Coach and Announcer, John Madden. While the matter is certainly up for debate, most sports fans would likely consider Madden 2009 to be the greatest sports video game ever made.

While many Madden players prefer to experience the game primarily through playing other friends and competitors with accurate NFL rosters, I, and others, often take a great deal of joy in the game’s Franchise Mode, which allows the user to literally draft a team through a pool that includes all current NFL players and free agents. From there on the player leads that team over a 30-year period. In the process, the user is responsible for financial affairs, personnel issues, and even staff management and advertising.

While I am certain that being an actual General Manager or owner of an NFL franchise requires more than is needed to excel in Madden, the drafting philosophies needed to build a successful Madden franchise do appear to translate well to real life. Therefore, I would now like to present my top 10 tips for drafting the perfect Madden NFL franchise:

1. Draft players with low overall ratings who have the tools to progress significantly, and sign them to seven year contracts at their current market value.

Arguably, the most difficult aspect of being a General Manager in football is dealing with the salary cap. Anyone can take all of the best-rated players in the draft, but chances are you won’t be able to sign any of them when their contracts expire. Instead, draft players with raw attributes, such as speed, strength, and breaking tackles, and sign them to full-length contracts. Once their overall ratings jump up into the 90s, you’ll already have them signed for life at a discount price.

2. Draft your franchise quarterback in the final rounds of the draft, if at all.

Drafting a star quarterback is the biggest mistake someone can make in Madden. Not only do they command way too much money, but also the lowest-rated quarterbacks can excel with the pieces around them, if the chemistry is right. Hey, just look at Matt Cassel last year. In my Madden franchise, I drafted Kevin O’Conell as my quarterback in the final round of the draft, and he has since bloomed into the league MVP. Plus, he is signed for the next seven years at only about $3 million a season.

3. Don’t try to make every aspect of your offense perfect. Rather, pick a specific aspect of it and build your offense around it.

With the salary cap around, it is frivolous and wasteful to try to create a perfect offense. Rather, concentrate on your strength and stick to it. If you are into running the ball, draft a great run-blocking line and three solid running backs to match. Then, grab some run-blocking wide receivers like Hines Ward later in the draft. If you are into passing the ball, grab a receiving running back like Kevin Faulk late in the draft and load up on some big-time receiving talent. Either way, you’ll be able to move the chains without busting your wallet.

4. Add as much defensive depth to your team as possible; the other team can’t beat you if they can’t score.

Simply stated, you can’t lose the game if your opponent doesn’t score a point. In my Madden franchise, I went all-out on drafting the perfect defense; and since then I have shut my opponent out in all but two games, and I have yet to lose at all. Even if you have no offense, a great defense will usually win the game for you.

5. Draft speedy outside linebackers and defensive backs later in the draft, regardless of any of their other stats.

Speed can always translate into sacks if you know how to use it right. Draft a corner back late in the draft with a 97 or higher speed rating and use the dime formation in passing situations. Blitz the quarterback with the speedster on the inside. My corner back, who was drafted with about a 67 overall rating, accumulated approximately 40 sacks in a single season; and I would expect similar results from any Madden or real NFL team that attempts a similar strategy.

6. Draft players who can excel in roles not normally conducive to their actual position.

That’s right, look for the oddball in the draft and take advantage of their skills. Michael Robinson, for example, is a running back who can throw better than some of the game’s better quarterbacks. Vernon Davis is a tight end who runs like a wide receiver. Hines Ward is a wide receiver who blocks like a tight end, and so forth. These are players who, if utilized for their specific unusual talents, can help determine the success of your football team.

7. Don’t over draft on kickers and punters. If the rest of the tips given here are followed, you may very well never need them.

I’ll admit that I have a soft spot in my heart for kickers and punters. As a Giants fan, I have incredible respect for Jeff Feagles, and I am a decent fan of the likes of Mason Crosby and Matt Stover as well. However, if the rest of my tips are utilized as planned, you may never have to punt the ball; and the only time the kicker will be used will be on extra points. Therefore, draft a youngster with some upside and let him develop over time, rather than wasting your draft pick on someone who may never be used for anything even remotely important.

8. Draft young. Your goal is to create a dynasty, not to win one championship and then fade into the oblivion.

Never, ever, draft a player about the age of 28. Even then, players over the age of 25 should only be drafted sparingly. If a player is any older, it means one of two things: Either he is already really good, and will demand a salary representative of that, or that player simply isn’t very good and won’t have the time in his career to develop. Either way, such players won’t do much in helping your team win championships a couple of years following the draft.

9. Keep at least one speedy quarterback on your roster. When everything else breaks down, you can always run the other team into the ground.

Scrambling quarterbacks may not build championship teams, but they sure as hell make for a great Plan B. When your offense is just having one of those days, bring in a speedster at the quarterback position and see if he can’t make some magic happen.

10. Build a powerful offensive line that can lead your team, but never overpay for any single member of the unit.

Throughout NFL history, no team has ever succeeded with a poor offensive line. However, at the same time, star offensive linemen demand more money than any other position; and a team can easily be financially crippled by throwing the bank at a single member of an offensive line. Therefore, avoid top tier linemen such as Joe Thomas, and instead look for a lower rated tackle with a high upside such as Joe Staley. After all, success on the offensive line is about the unit, not the individual.

Bonus Tip: Never, ever, draft a player in the top half of the first round. In fact, it is probably best to trade away all of your first round picks altogether, and instead cash in with multiple second, third, and fourth round picks.

In the NFL today, first-round picks are simply paid way too much. In fact, they are often provided with record breaking contracts prior to ever stepping foot on the football field. Instead, draft the core of your team in the second round, where the talent is almost just as good but the price tag is incredibly less than that of their previously mentioned contemporaries. This technique will allow you to build up your depth, create a solid youthful foundation for your team, and maintain financial stability throughout your tenure as a Madden general manager.

Note: Real life NFL General Managers should take special note to this tip, as the financial basis for this tip projects seamlessly to the business aspect of operating a professional football franchise.

New York Giants Won't Limit Travis Beckum to Tight End Position

Jeremy Kaufman — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:55:40 -0400

In the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Travis Beckum, the 6’3", 243-pound tight end out of Wisconsin. While the jury is still out on how Beckum will fare in the NFL, scouts have called him a solid receiving tight end with almost no run-blocking skills.

However, after carefully reviewing statements on Beckum by both the New York Giants as well as the general media, I’m beginning to think that he isn’t quite a tight end at all.

Beckum isn’t the ideal size for a tight end. In fact, in an era in which 270-pound tight ends are the standard, Beckum can actually be viewed as more of a wide receiver than a tight end, at least in terms of his body size. However, that may be his most familiar role anyway.

After reading up on several scouting reports on Travis Beckum, it appears that the position at which he will hold the most in game value is as a slot receiver. With speed that can best be quantified within the approximation of a 4.5 forty, Beckum has sufficient speed to beat defensive backs to the ball and serve as a solid zone-busting third-down receiving option.

It could be compared to the way Steve Smith has been used in thus far in his career.

Furthermore, Beckum has the heft and power to block out defensive backs that are unlucky enough to be assigned to him on a running play. Travis’ impressive bench press results of 28 repetitions of 225 pounds are a solid indicator of the strength that he possesses, providing further reason to believe that he could become a nightmare matchup against smaller defensive backs.

So, what would happen if the defense decides to cover Beckum with an outside linebacker? Well, with his above-average speed and superior route-running abilities, any linebacker in the league would likely have his hands full trying to cover Beckum.

While the official roster may list him as a tight end, it is this role as a slot receiver that I expect Beckum to take on most commonly in his first year with the New York Giants.

While Beckum’s skills almost certainly will translate effectively to the role of slot receiver, it is not the only role at which Beckum’s abilities are expected to be utilized. As a solid receiver with great strength, some Giants insiders believe that Beckum's skill set will fit in well at the H-back position.

For those who are unfamiliar with this essentially unofficial position, the H-back can best be described as a receiver who plays out of the position spot typically reserved for the fullback. While Madison Hedgecock is arguably the best blocking fullback in the NFL, his receiving skills are sub-par at this point in his career.

Having a receiving specialist who can fill in for Hedgecock in appropriate situations would make for a very dangerous weapon for the New York Giants. With a fullback, or H-back who can receive out of the backfield, the defense is forced to reconstruct their scheme to compensate for this unusual offensive attack. As a result, more holes will inherently open up for both the passing game and running game, as both linebackers and defensive backs will be forced to take on additional and arduous responsibilities on defense.

While the addition of Travis Beckum to the New York Giants may not have received as much publicity and fanfare as the additions of Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, I believe that Beckum will have the greatest impact of the trio on the Giants’ receiving game in 2009.

As a physically talented receiver who can fit in at three very different positions, opposing defenses will always be forced to pay attention to where he lines up on the field. So, it seems almost certain that Travis Beckum will make his mark on the NFL in 2009; the only question is, at which position will it take place?

Ten Questions For Rashad Barksdale Of The New York Giants

Jeremy Kaufman — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:59:36 -0400

While most New York Giants fans are familiar with the likes of Aaron Ross and Corey Webster, only the most devout of fans have ventured far enough down the depth chart to pay attention to the likes of Rashad Barksdale, the young and raw cornerback out of the University at Albany.

As a recent graduate of Albany, I have had the pleasure of studying along side Barksdale, working out in the same facilities, and even watching him play up close for Albany’s Division 1 football team.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that I have an unusually strong knowledge of this player’s game as well as his unusual ascent to the NFL, and I don’t think there is a single player on the Giants more worthy of a quick interview than him.

With that said, here are 10 questions that I would like to ask him if I am given the opportunity to conduct such an interview:

1. I understand that you only played one year of college football. Why did you wait until your senior year until you gave football a try? Also, how did you become good enough to garner NFL attention in such a short period of time?

2. Prior to your brief college football career, I understand that you were a pretty good college baseball player. If you would have stuck primarily with baseball, do you think you would have had a shot at being drafted into Major League Baseball?

3. As I’m sure you know, getting drafted after playing only one year of college football at a relatively insignificant football school is quite rare. What kind of 40-yard dash time did you run to grab the attention of NFL scouts?

4. After bouncing around between NFL teams, you are now finally back in New York. How does it feel to be playing with your hometown team?

5. What kind of impact do you think you can have on the New York Giants in 2009?

6. What are your long term goals for yourself in the NFL, both as an individual as well as a member of a team?

7. What aspect of your game do you consider to be your greatest strength? Conversely, what aspect of your game do you consider to be your greatest weakness?

8. In order for you to make the New York Giants roster at the crowded cornerback position, you will likely have to excel on special teams. How would you describe your game as a special teams player thus far in your NFL career?

9. As I’m sure you know, there has never before been a player out of the University at Albany drafted into the NFL. With that said, what made you choose to play football there? Overall, how would you describe your experiences there?

10. As anyone who has ever attended Albany would attest to, the university is undoubtedly one of the top party schools in the entire country. With that said, I must ask which of the local bars was your nightlife option of choice (During the offseason, of course)?

Are NFL Linemen Too Big for Their Own Good?

Jeremy Kaufman — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:01:17 -0400

As an athlete for the majority of my life, I have always believed that a key component to the life of an athlete was to work towards an optimal level of health and conditioning so that you are best able to succeed in sport as well as in life.

For the most part, this basic principle seems to hold true, as a great number of the world’s best athletes are in incredible physical shape, regardless of their sport.

However, it has come to my attention that one of the sports that I love the most may be encouraging a lifestyle that simply doesn’t put its athletes in a position to live a healthy lifestyle.

The sport is football, and the victims are the offensive and defensive linemen.

It is my firm belief that these athletes are being forced to reach a size that simply isn’t fit for most human beings, and as a result, their quality of life is being dramatically cut short.

Therefore, I now intend to explore this deeply disturbing issue in hopes of identifying the problem, as well as formulating a solution that can save the lives of countless NFL athletes.

In the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated, an article was written in which the lives of several college linemen were explored following their departure from football. In most cases, it was found that these linemen ballooned up as heavy as 400 pounds, and many of them suffered some severe health problems following their graduation.

For the lucky few who managed to lose the weight that they had to gain during their football days, they made it clear to those who covered the story that they felt much happier and healthier in their natural state.

In fact, Brett Byford, a former center at Nebraska, actually turned down an NFL tryout because he never wanted to have to gain back the weight that was required to play on an offensive line in football.

While many of these linemen held playing weights that exceeded 300 pounds, their natural weights often lie between 200 and 230—significantly less than the playing weight that they were essentially forced to maintain.

However, what about the players who make it to the NFL? In the NFL today, both offensive and defensive linemen commonly exceed 300 pounds, with the largest players weighing in close to 400 pounds.

In fact, in the contemporary NFL, it is almost impossible for a lineman under the playing weight of 290 pounds to make it in the league, regardless of talent level.

So, in order to gain a better understanding of the super-sized offensive lines that are found all across the NFL landscape, let us take a look at my favorite NFL team, the New York Giants.

The left tackle of the Giants is David Diehl, who weighs in at a hefty 319 pounds.

At left guard the Giants have Rich Seubert, who can almost be considered skinny for an NFL guard at 310 pounds. At center the Giants have captain Shaun O’Hara, who weighs in at a mere 303 pounds.

At right guard the Giants boast All-Pro guard Chris Snee, who weighs in at 317 pounds. Finally, we find right tackle Kareem McKenzie, who packs a punch at 327 pounds.

Notice anything unusual about the measurements on the New York Giants’ offensive line? That’s right—every single starting lineman weighs over 300 pounds. Unfortunately, this is becoming an overwhelming trend in the NFL, as coaches continue to look for bigger and bigger offensive linemen to counteract the effects of ever-growing defensive linemen.

While the size of these players may help win ball games, accounts by many of them indicate that their standards of living are not as high as they should be, and following their NFL careers, their health will almost certainly fall into jeopardy.

This issue has not been seriously discussed by NFL officials at this point in time, but I believe that this is an issue that needs to be addressed quickly. Otherwise, the NFL will be forced to mourn the loss of some of its most beloved athletes much sooner than any of us would like.

Now that the problem has been sufficiently identified, how may we go about fixing it? Well, I have a couple of suggestions.

1) Place a weight limit on offensive and defensive linemen

I believe that taking this action would save the lives of countless athletes. By placing a weight limit at these positions, the unnatural growth of these athletes will be limited, and their physical health, as well as the quality of football that they play, should increase as a result.

After all, if an NFL center doesn’t have to worry about blocking a 350-pound defender, then he would be freer to utilize his speed on pulls and counters at a lean 280 pounds. For me, this would be a win-win situation.

However, certain obstacles would likely prevent this from happening. For instance, what would the weight limit be? I would suggest 300 pounds, but a case could be made for a lighter weight. In that case, what should be done about very tall athletes who naturally come in at a higher weight?

Also, what should be done about shorter athletes who are able to make the weight limit but are still what one would consider fat? This brings me to my next suggestion.

2) Establish a maximum body fat percentage, or height to weight ratio

By stating that NFL players may not have a body fat percentage over a certain amount, offensive and defensive linemen would no longer be able to eat themselves to death.

Also, by establishing a height-to-weight ratio on such requirements, 7'0" athletes won’t have to worry about slimming down to an unnecessary extent, while a 5’8" lineman wouldn’t be able to get around any loopholes by gaining 50 pounds of bulk.

However, some issues apply here as well. What would be done about non-linemen who happen to exceed the required weight limits? Some fullbacks, such as Jon Bradley, actually reach 300 pounds in weight.

Also, one trend that is forming in the NFL today is the use of extremely large running backs to pave their way through the defense. Should their weights be limited as well? As a big-time fan of the likes of Brandon Jacobs and Reagan Mauia, I would like to say no.

However, with smaller defensive lines, opposing coaches will inevitably start to take advantage by searching for bigger running backs, both for the purpose of running through the defense as well as for extra blocking help.

If this happens, some type of regulation would have to be made to counteract any unfair advantages that opposing offenses would gain as a result.

In the end, I believe something absolutely has to be done about the weight of NFL offensive and defensive linemen.

While size has always been a positive advantage in football, the obesity of today’s linemen is ruining the game of football, and even more so the lives the players who work in the trenches.

By slimming down, the offensive line in the NFL can once again become a position of skill in which centers sprint towards the outside of the hash marks to make blocks, and guards run towards the secondary to take out a safety.

In order to effectively establish the necessary changes, the NFL should take the example of the sport of Sprint Football.

In this college-level game, football players of all positions are required to weigh in at under 172 pounds, and as a result, the speed of the game is faster and more exciting. Sprint football teams have had an extensive history of beating even full-sized Division I football teams in exhibitions.

In today’s NFL, there may be no more important issue than the size of its linemen. Let’s just hope Roger Goodell gets the message before it's too late.

Why Pro Wrestling Articles Should Be Banned from Bleacher Report

Jeremy Kaufman — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:30:11 -0400

Over the past year, Bleacher Report has made tremendous strides in transforming from a mundane blog to a legitimate sports news source that is worthy of acknowledgement by those within the profession in sports journalism. However, there is still one major step that Bleacher Report must take before it can ever move towards becoming a true source of sports journalism. That step is the banning of professional wrestling from the site.

Now, I have little doubt that the aforementioned statement has just made quite a few people very, very mad. After all, there seems to be a great number of professional wrestling fans on the site, as alluded to by the numerous wrestling articles that have made the front page of our site in recent weeks.

So, in spite of its popularity, why is it that I wish to see professional wrestling exiled from the realm of Bleacher Report? I’ll tell you why.

Professional wrestling is not a sport!

That’s right. I know it may hurt some of you to hear this, but professional wrestling is truly not a sport. While the actual sport of wrestling is one in which hard working athletes compete on the mat at the high school, college, and Olympic levels, professional wrestling is an entertainment event created for the purpose of fueling the cravings for violence of immature adolescents and adults.

Just in case the violence isn’t enough, professional wrestling expands its audience by including the presence of barely dressed women who’s primary purpose is to arouse the typically young audience.

Without any question, this event is certainly not a sport. If you are a fan of professional wrestling, you have every right to continue to enjoy it, but do not attempt to pass it off as a sport. Broadway articles are not featured on Bleacher Report. Neither should professional wrestling.

It Promotes unsportsmanlike violence

As a fan and athlete within the sports of boxing and MMA, I take great offense to the phony violence that I witness in professional wrestling.

While athletes within the boxing and MMA communities spend years of their life learning the technique and philosophy behind their powerful attacks and counter-attacks, professional wrestlers fight their way to victory through fake punches, jumps off a rope, and by slamming their victim in the head with a chair that is oh-so-conveniently left available by the side of the ring.

Despite its foundation of martial arts principles and disciplinary philosophies, MMA has received a great deal of criticism through the general public as a result of the perceived violence that the sport allows. However, professional wrestling tries its hardest to portray the very level of violence that boxing and MMA try so hard to avoid, through the utilization of ambushes, weapons, and attacks that would typically be life-threatening if they were real.

Such brute violence has no place in sports, whether it's real or not. This is yet another reason why I believe we shouldn’t allow professional wrestling articles on this site.

Absence of athletic competition

A sport can loosely be defined as any physical activity in which two different entities compete for victory. However, who is actually competing in a professional wrestling match?

It is a well known fact that the outcomes of professional wrestling matches are fixed, and, therefore, it is quite clear that neither “actor” is truly competing. Rather, they are simply trying to put on a good show for the crowd, essentially working together so that they both earn their paychecks at the end of the week.

Without competition, an activity cannot be considered a sport. In baseball, when the World Series outcome was fixed due to the Black Sox scandal, the sport was nearly destroyed forever. This clearly shows that we cannot allow any activity with a fixed conclusion into our athletic community.

Promotion of steroids

Arguably, the greatest issue with our era of sports is the utilization of steroids by professional athletes.

While attention has been paid more to baseball athletes than anyone else, it is clear that steroids are becoming a greater problem in our society, and this problem is permeating to the young men who grow up idolizing these athletes in our communities.

More and more, high school and college-aged young men are turning to steroids, be it for athletic performance, appearance, or merely to help suppress their insecurities. While the dominance of baseball and football players who have taken steroids is bad enough of a problem as it is, the indirect promotion of steroids through professional wrestling is catastrophic.

So, how do I claim professional wrestling promotes the utilization of steroids?

Well, all you have to do is look at the actors. Almost every single one of them is built to an inhuman extent, and countless wrestlers have already been caught or lost their lives due to the excessive utilization of steroids. The fact is that even the NFL doesn’t have 400 pound athletes in its league, and putting together that much muscle naturally would generally be impossible.

Furthermore, it has been said by some that even Vince McMahon has supplied his actors with steroids during their careers in order to enhance their physical strength and appearance.

If Bug Selig was ever accused of supplying steroids to his athletes, he would go down in history as the worst single individual ever to have anything to do with sports. So, if it holds true in one sport, why should we give professional wrestling a free pass? It’s easy stance on steroids sets a negative example for athletes of all ages, and we should not promote such an activity under the same domain which we discuss actual sports.

Professional wrestling hinders the sanctity of sports

Growing up, all of us who participated in athletics surely learned what playing a sport is all about: teamwork effort, selflessness, sportsmanship, fitness, and safety.

So, how does professional wrestling promote any of the aforementioned ideals?

It certainly isn’t about teamwork, as teammates don’t bash each other over the head with a chair when they’re not looking so that they could steal his girlfriend.

I wouldn’t say professional wrestling promotes effort, either, as the outcomes of the matches are fixed.

Professional wrestling certainly doesn’t promote selflessness, as each and every actor is in it for themselves and the paycheck that they receive at the end of the week.

Furthermore, I feel quite sure that no one would try to argue that there is sportsmanship in professional wrestling, as they are more likely to pretend to strangle each other at the end of a match than shake hands.

As far as fitness is concerned, I wouldn’t say that truly exists, either, since many of them seem to reach their sporting shape primarily through illegal drugs.

And, finally, there is safety. Unfortunately, the only safe thing about professional wrestling is that it is fake. However, actors have died during the spectacle that is professional wrestling, while several others have died and even harmed others due to the effects of steroid abuse.

Therefore, I can accurately say that professional wrestling does not embody any of the key principles of sport in its purest form, and, as a result, it must be disregarded from the sporting community altogether.

For those of you who are still fans of professional wrestling, that’s fine; you have every right to be. However, make sure to write about pro wrestling on a blog about your favorite TV shows, not one that is in the business of analyzing sports.

New York Giants: What Holes Have Yet To Be Filled?

Jeremy Kaufman — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:34:26 -0400

Due to the ever-looming salary cap within the contemporary NFL, it is quite rare to find a football team without holes. Despite their great level of success over the past couple of years, the New York Giants certainly are not an exception to this rule.

With that said, I would now like to take the time to assess the current Giants roster and identify the positions at which I believe a hole can be found.

Wide Receiver

Without a doubt, the wide receiving core is the biggest hole on the 2009 New York Giants roster. With Plaxico Burress released following his legal issues and Amani Toomer’s future with the team in doubt, the zone-busting specialist Steve Smith will be taking over as the team’s No. 1 receiving option.

Following Smith are unproven speedsters Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss, and Mario Mannigham, as well as talented but raw rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden. While the talent level of this unit is high, someone will certainly need to step up and become the leader. Until then, the wide receiver position has to be considered a hole for this team.

Tight End

While not nearly as large of a hole as with the wide receiver position, I believe it is fair to say that a hole does exist amongst the New York Giants’ tight ends.

Kevin Boss, the incumbent starting tight end for the team, was a division II college player who has shown flashes of brilliance both as a blocker as well as a receiver, but he is still far from a proven commodity given his experience.

Michael Matthews, the second string tight end, is a 270 pound blocking prodigy who has a long way to go as far as his receiving game is concerned. The third string tight end for the G-Men will likely be rookie Travis Beckum, a tight end with solid receiving skills who brings very little to the table in terms of blocking.

The Giants should have enough contribution from the tight end position to succeed, but there is still something to be desired here from a team that has Super Bowl aspirations.

Kicker

Even though John Carney represented the New York Giants in the Pro Bowl last season, I still believe that a hole lies within the Giants’ kicking game. While Carney was exceptionally efficient for the Giants in 2008, he did seem to have limited range on his kicks and often wasn’t even used for field goal attempts from beyond 50 yards. Furthermore, John Carney is now 45 years old and is still a free agent, thereby indicating that the Giants have little intention to bring him back for the 2009 season.

Currently, the only other kicker on the Giants’ roster is Lawrence Tynes, a veteran kicker who has put together a solid career of mediocrity, and who lost his starting job in 2008 to John Carney after returning from injury. While the Giants did succeed in winning the Super Bowl in 2007 with Tynes as their place-kicker, there is certainly a great deal of room to improve at the position.

Surprisingly, star college kicker Graham Gano out of Florida State went undrafted this year, and, yet, the Giants’ showed little interest in signing him or any other young kicker.

It appears that the Giants will enter the 2009 NFL season with a hole at the kicker position, as well. However, considering the overall solidity of the football team, the Giants should be able to overcome all of the aforementioned holes and put forth a solid effort in contending for a Super Bowl birth.

New York Giants: Every Fan Has A Story

Jeremy Kaufman — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:21:46 -0400

There’s no denying that just about every sports fan throughout the globe has at least one team which the call their own. For some fans, their relationship with their team comes to fruition namely because the city or state which that teams represents falls into the jurisdiction of that given fan.

For others, the fan—team relationship begins as part of the due course of family tradition, as parents or older family members undoubtedly play a large role in developing the sporting interests of their children.

For yet others, a favorite team is selected due to the presence of a particular player on that squad, thereby attracting the given fan to the team as a whole. So which of these paths to fan hood best describe my own? Actually, my story and circumstances are quite different. Every fan has a story; here’s mine.

It all started at approximately eight years old with a very inauspicious beginning. Being a skinny and short kid from Brooklyn, football simply wasn’t a sport that I felt I had much ability to relate to.

While I had already developed a passion for baseball and soccer at the time, I had trouble understanding what I had in common with 300-pound men who annihilate each other on just about every play, and then get up and do it all over again.

As a result, I had lived my life up to that point without truly selecting a football team to call my own. However, the day would soon come when I would be forced to make a choice.

One summer day on a camp field trip, my friends and I were taken to Fun Time USA in Brooklyn. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the place, it is best comparable to a mini indoors theme park. Soon after entering the building, my friends had unanimously selected to ride the bumper cars. However, there was something different about these cars.

After approaching the ride, my friends and I soon realized that the bumper cars had an NFL theme. Half of the cars were representative of the New York Giants, while the other half represented the New York Jets.

Right then and there, I was forced to make a choice that would inheritably change the rest of my life. I thought about it, assessed the colors of the cars, and in the end determined that I belonged with Big Blue. This moment was the birth of a Giants fan.

In the days that ensued, I still found that I new very little about the game of football. While I now made an effort to watch all of the New York Giants’ games, little made sense to me except that the quarterback throws to a wide receiver.

After all, backyard football really consists of little more than a quarterback and receivers anyway, so that was the aspect of the game that became most clear to me at the time.

As I reached high school, my football knowledge steadily began to increase. However, I believe that my interest in the New York Giants was propelled forward the day that I saw Tiki Barber first play.

While Tiki wasn’t considered to be anything special at the time, I saw several qualities in him that I was really able to relate to. He was small for his position, short, well- spoken, and always determined to prove his critiques wrong.

Furthermore, Tiki showed a great willingness to improve his game, losing his fumbling reputation and replacing it with one of a solid ball carrier. For the first time, I witnessed a player on the New York Giants who I could truly relate to. This inspired me to take a greater interest in the sport, as well as to begin competing in it myself.

As my interest in the New York Giants’ increased, so did my interest in the sport itself. I would begin working out more and studying why certain plays work in the game of football.

Little by little, I was transforming from the eight year old skinny Brooklyn boy who didn’t know a thing about the game into a defensive back with a great understanding for the game.

In the years that have since followed, I have become as passionate a Giants fan as there ever will be. I watch every single game that I can, and I attend as many of the games as possible in person.

Even though Tiki Barber has since moved on from the New York Giants, I was lucky enough to attend the game in which he broke the New York Giants’ rushing record against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Furthermore, I have since developed a great appreciation for the New York Giants roster in whole, as I can now break down the game of just about every player from Eli Manning to Rashad Barksdale.

In fact, Rashad was a recent classmate of mine at the University at Albany, and the New York Giants team as a whole trains at the school amongst me and my contemporaries.

This coincidental happening was almost like a dream to me, as having one’s favorite team getting ready for the NFL season at your school and staying in your dorms is quite surreal. However, maybe it was simply meant to be.

My name is Jeremy Kaufman, this is the story of a New York Giants fan.

The New York Giants' Utilization of the I-Formation

Jeremy Kaufman — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:56:42 -0400

It can be argued that the contemporary NFL is the most unique professional sports league in the world today.

While the strategies utilized for offensive success in sports such as baseball and basketball are essentially limited to approaches that consist of athletes of set positions and skill sets, the rules and tradition of the NFL allow for its teams to create offensive schemes that incorporate combinations of players from different positions, specialties, and attributes that may drastically affect the style and identity of the team as a whole.

In today’s NFL, offensive prestige is becoming more and more consistent with the mold of a star quarterback, surrounded by at least three wide receivers through at least 50 percent of the game.

Under such a formation, loosely defined as a single-back formation, the once vital position known as the fullback is all but erased. In fact, many teams currently in the NFL do not even bother wasting a single one of their 53 roster spots on the presence of a fullback.

For these teams, the notion of an extra blocker in the running game is an unnecessary luxury, and a job that a backup tight end could handle if the situation dictated its utilization. However, the New York Giants certainly are not one of those teams.

Over the past few seasons, the New York Giants have relied on the timeless I-formation for the large majority of their offensive success. In fact, the G-Men may come to be the sole reason in explaining why the fullback position has not become extinct altogether.

However, prior to establishing this relationship, it would likely be prudent to first explain exactly what defines the I-formation and why the New York Giants have found such a great level of success under its practice.

In essence, the I-formation is an offensive football formation in which the team’s quarterback is directly trailed by a fullback, who is then trailed by the team’s primary running back.

In a basic I-formation, there is one tight end on the field who lines up directly next to one of the two offensive tackles, and two wide receivers who will typically line up on the opposite ends of the field.

This offensive formation can be viewed in contrast to the more popular single-back formation, in which the lone fullback is replaced in favor of a third wide receiver, thereby placing a greater emphasis on the passing aspect of the offense.

However, by opting for an extra receiver over an extra blocker, proponents of the single-back offense are seceding a valuable aspect of their running game. While the fullback usually won’t accumulate statistics relative to other skill position players, the dividends that a solid fullback can convey upon the team’s tailbacks and even the quarterback are priceless.

Now that a thorough comprehension of the I-formation has been established, we may now take a look back at my earlier claim that the Giants have single-handedly saved the position of fullback from extinction through their effective utilization of the I-formation.

So, under what grounds do I believe this claim to be true?

The evidence comes in looking at the team’s running backs. In today’s NFL, any running back who averages over four yards per carry is generally considered to be pretty good, with those who average more towards 4.5 yards per carry often appearing in their share of pro bowls.

Higher up on the running back hierarchy are the few elite running backs in the NFL who have the ability to average over five yards per carry under full playing time. Such an occurrence is generally a bit of a rarity, but the few running backs who accomplish this feat are almost always among the very best in the league.

However, the New York Giants seem to be an almost unrealistic exception to this rule. This is because all three of the major running backs for the team averaged over five yards per carry during the 2008 football season.

Brandon Jacobs for instance, is a 264 pound running back who was once thought to be little more than a goal-line specialist, averaging five yards per carry with 1,089 yards rushing.

However, it can be argued that Jacobs wasn’t even the most prolific back for the G-Men in 2008, as Derrick Ward rushed for 1,025 yards at a mind-boggling average of 5.6 yards per carry!

Even less comprehensive is that the Giant’s third string running back, Ahmad Bradshaw, rushed for an average of 5.3 yards per carry. Even the Giant’s emergency back, Danny Ware, averaged 7.5 yards per carry in the two carries that he received in 2008.

So, why were the New York Giants’ running backs so successful in 2008? I attribute their success both to the brilliant play of the offensive line as well as Madison Hedgecock’s blocking in the I-formation offense.

While Hedgecock brings little to the table in form of tangible statistical success, his proficiency in run-blocking has paved the way for absolutely any tailback to succeed in the New York Giants system.

While I do not mean to take anything away from Brandon Jacobs and the other running backs who have succeeded under this offense, I due believe that they have all been given the opportunity to maximize their abilities through the utilization of the I-formation offense.

With the help of a run blocking fullback, the Giants offense is able to take out one key defender from any given run play, as Hedgecock’s blocking usually incapacitates an unlucky linebacker on each given play. While that block may not show up in the stat sheets, the absence of that defender from the play is often just what the running back needs to break away for a big gain.

This theory definitely showed itself to be accurate in 2008, as the production of the Giants’ running game forced other NFL teams to acknowledge that a fullback can prove useful in promoting the success of the running game.

For that reason, I believe I am correct in stating, that the New York Giants have helped prevent the extinction of the modern NFL fullback through their successful utilization of the I-formation.

While the Giant’s usage of the I-formation offense has allowed their running game to flourish, this particular formation does allow for auxiliary forms of offensive firepower as well. Through this offensive system, opposing defenses are taught to bite on the run, as without extra run support it becomes increasingly difficult to stop.

As a result, many opposing defenses opt to move a safety up into the box in order to help compensate for the linebacker who will almost certainly be demolished by the fullback on that play. As a result, there is one less defender in the opposing backfield to defend the pass. Therefore, the play-action pass becomes a deadly weapon for Eli Manning and the New York Giants.

Since the opposing defense is prone towards expecting the run from a powerful I-formation system, it is quite likely that the safeties will bite on the play fake when Eli pretends to hand the ball off to the running back. As a result, each wide receiver would ideally be left in a one on one situation, which most of the league’s better receivers tend to excel in.

In fact, it is also quite possible that the corner back himself will bite on the fake, thereby freeing the receiver up all together. As a result, the Giants’ passing game actually feeds off of the running game under the I-formation.

In this respect, the I-formation offense can be said to be a perfect fit for the New York Giants, as it maximizes the all of the talent on the offensive side of the ball, rather than just one half of it.

Hey, the I-formation may not be as flashy as the wildcat or as free-flowing as the spread offense, but there’s not another formation in football that can get the job done quite like it.

And, for the New York Giants, getting the job done is just fine.

An Existentialist Assessment of the New York Giants' Offense

Jeremy Kaufman — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:40:05 -0400

As a recently- graduated college philosophy minor, I have spent ample amounts of time studying different ways to analyze the world. While many would argue that I had selected a poor minor for someone who wishes to pursue a career in sports journalism, I would beg to differ.

Therefore, in order to demonstrate how philosophical teachings can apply to the sports world, I will now assess the New York Giants’ offense in relation to several key existentialist principles, in hopes of gaining a greater insight into the potential of the attacking side of the ball for the G-Men.

Principle One: There is no future and no fate. Absolutely nothing exists other than your conscious present. Existence precedes essence.

According to this basic existentialist principle, you only exist in the very second of time that you are currently in. Contrary to more theological or wishfully optimistic beliefs, there are no good luck charms, and no one is controlling what will happen next for you other than you.

So, how does this apply to the New York Giants?

Simply stated, the New York Giants are a team that needs to play in the present. Due to the Giant’s lack of depth at the wide receiver position this year, many fans and analysts alike are left saying that the Giants will have better chances in a year or two once their new young receivers develop.

However, in order to be successful in 2009, the Giants’ offense must not take that approach. Even in spite of their overall inexperience, Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, and even Hakeem Nicks must remember that only they have the power to control their own destiny. If they want it bad enough, that destiny may be a Super Bowl victory in 2009.

Principle Two: Doubt everything that you can doubt. In the end, the only things in life that you can’t doubt are real.

This somewhat pessimistic principle of existentialist philosophy comes from the great Descartes’ meditations. In his theory, Descartes states that one should approach the world doubting everything that they cannot determine without absolutely certainty.

After doing that, only the few things that absolutely cannot be doubted are the only things you should believe.

So, what can we doubt about the New York Giants’ offense in 2009? We can doubt Eli Manning’s ability to play at a pro bowl level without a true number one receiver, as Eli struggled at the end of last season without the assistance of Plaxico Burress.

Furthermore, we can doubt the productivity of a wide receiving core that is centered on a natural slot receiver in Steve Smith and two unproven rookies in Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.

Ok, so what can we not doubt?

The only things that we cannot doubt about the Giants’ offense are that the offensive line are going to maul up opposing defensive lines, and Brandon Jacobs will trample over defenders throughout the season.

Therefore, according to basic existentialist philosophy, these are the only truths which we may state in speculation of what will take place for the Giants in 2009. Any other claims about the G-Men offense, regardless of how well researched or thought out they are, are simply arbitrary claims that hold no more validity than the flip of a coin.

Principle Three: You only become self-aware when you encounter another.

This existentialist principle may be the most important to the New York Giants’ offense in terms of assessing their true chances for success. According to basic existentialism, a human mind can only become aware of its self when it encounters another human mind. So, why does this principle apply to the Giants’ offense?

It applies because, once the season begins, the G-Men will have to come face to face with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins in what should come out to be the toughest division in the National Football League.

It is not until the Giants’ young receivers step onto the gridiron and look at the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Albert Haynesworth face to face that they can become aware of just what they will be capable of in 2009.

If Hakeem Nicks sees his opposition in his first NFL game and becomes aware that he is fearful or not ready, the Giants’ offense will be bound for disappointment. However, if Eli Manning can league his young offense and allow them to step on the field with confidence and sureness of their ability, the big blue offense will be ready to do big things in 2009.

So, what can we take away from this general existentialist assessment of the New York Giants’ offense? Well, through the incorporation of these three existentialist principles into our examination of the team, we can formulate more realistic and intellectually valid expectations for the team in the upcoming season.

While existentialism will not assist us in making any bold predictions about the team’s future success or lack thereof, it does allow us to cross out and disregard many of the unfounded and often biased claims that general fans of any given team tend to make.

For example, would it really be fair to predict that Hakeem Nicks will have a pro bowl season before he even steps a foot onto the gridiron and faces an actual NFL team? Yea, I didn’t think so.

So, it may not be the most conventional method by which to analyze an NFL offense, but it works. After all, who needs John Madden when you can have Socrates?

Five Non- Football Athletes Who Could Potentially Help The New York Giants In 2009

Jeremy Kaufman — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:39:03 -0400

Throughout the course of the NFL season, countless fans quarrel over which players would be most beneficial to their team's cause in the upcoming season. Whether they come through free agency, trades, or the draft, the acquisition of new players for one's team is always an exciting turn of events, as the skills and character that each player brings to the table undoubtedly will always affect the output of that given team, for better or worse. However, in this article, I want to take a look at somewhat of a less explored method by which to acquire new football talent. Football, unlike many of sports, is a game in which a player may succeed in time with raw athletic abilities and a desire to win, even if their experience in the sport is limited. With that said, I would like to examine five athletes who, if given the opportunity, I believe would prove to be an asset for my favorite football team, the New York Giants.

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Five New York Giants Who Need To Step Up in 2009

Jeremy Kaufman — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:01:51 -0400

The game of football is far from a static one. Rather than consisting of players and teams that consistently perform in the same manner year after year, those who participate in the NFL demonstrate a dynamic that may be greater than that of any other sport.

Every year during training camp, players are given the opportunity to improve themselves in their weakest areas, thereby allowing those who put in the work to dramatically improve both their personal success as well as the success of their respective teams.

With that said, I would like to take this time to assess five players from the New York Giants who can significantly impact the team by improving themselves in a specific aspect of their game.

5) Brandon Jacobs: Pass Protection

While Brandon Jacobs is very well known around the NFL for his powerful running style and gargantuan build, one area in which he still needs a great deal of work in is his pass protection.

While being an elite pass protector from the running back position certainly won’t sell many jerseys for you or put you in the pro bowl, being a good pass protecting back is a great way to improve the success of your team.

While Brandon undoubtedly has all of the physical tools to excel in this area, he has not yet developed the form necessary for him to become an above average back in pass protection. This can likely be attributed to his lack of experience, as Jacobs was a backup in college and likely didn’t spend very much time in such a role.

In order to become an elite pass protector, Jacobs will have to learn to create leverage from his stance and shoot his hands into the inside of the pass rusher’s shoulders, thereby neutralizing the momentum of the defender.

If Jacobs is willing to put in the work this offseason, I believe he can greatly improve in this aspect of his game, and significantly help his team in doing so.

4) Aaron Ross: Tackling

Coming into his third season in the NFL, the former Texascornerback has established himself as a solid cover cornerback who excels in man to man coverage. However, despite his physical style of play, Ross still has a lot of work to do in terms of his tackling ability.

Like most young defenders in the NFL, Ross still has a tendency to sometimes wait too heavily for the opportunity to deliver a big hit, thereby increasing the likelihood that he will miss the tackle.

Furthermore, on runs to the outside, he has to improve at getting low on the runner and wrapping him up. By sometimes going too high on a tackle or failing to wrap, running backs can manage to elude or over power Ross, thereby setting up a big run.

If Ross can improve his run defense by working on his tackling ability and shedding the blocks of opposing wide receivers, Ross can become an incredibly valuable asset to this football team.

3) Madison Hedgecock: Receiving

In 2008, Madison Hedgecock established him self as one of the best run blocking fullbacks in the NFL. Through his brutal bulldozer like blocks, Hedgecock went from being a fringe player to a pro bowl caliber talent in less than a year.

However, while Hedgecock’s blocking is already as good as it gets, he still has ways to go in terms of his receiving. While Tom Coughlin seldom uses his fullbacks as runners in his offense, he does sometimes use the fullback as an extra receiver, thereby forcing the defense to expand their coverage at the expense of their pass rush.

This technique has proven to be especially effective against Dallas, as their 3-4 defense is so centered around the outside pass rush that there is often no defender available to pick up the fullback is he curls out to the outside.

While Hedgecock is capable of making simple receptions, he still has much work to do as a receiver. His route running is still raw at best, and his hands are far from consistent. If Hedgecock can devote a serious amount of time this offseason to improving his receiving ability, he can become a serious weapon for the New York Giants in 2009.

2) Steve Smith: Big- Play Ability

While this particular aspect of football is far less tangible than those previously mentioned, it is undoubtedly vital towards the success of the New York Giants.

Due to the turbulence that has led to the release of Plaxico Burress and the ambiguous status of aging veteran Amani Toomer, Steve Smith will likely be forced to step up as the number one receiver for the Giants in 2009.

While thus far in his NFL career Smith has proven himself to be a reliable option in the mid-range passing game, he has been a virtual non-factor as far as the deep-passing game is concerned.

In order for Steve Smith to succeed as a No. 1 receiver for this football team, he will have to learn to beat defenders in man coverage and catch the ball in stride for a long touchdown.

Currently, Smith excels at busting the middle of zones, but he seldom is seen beating his man downfield. If Steve Smith commits the time this offseason towards working with Eli on deep routes and breaking away for yards after the catch, Smith will become a major key to the success of the Giants in 2009.

1) David Diehl: Pass Protection

This last category may come somewhat as a shock to many casual Giants fans who believe that David Diehl is currently an elite left tackle. After all, the Giants’ offensive line has been among the best in the league for the past couple of seasons, so obviously the left tackle must be responsible for much of that, right?

Well actually, this isn’t really true at all.

The fact is, while David Diehl has performed admirably since converting from the guard to the tackle position, the fact remains that Diehl still has much work to do in terms of his pass protection.

In 2007, statisticians assessed Diehl to have allowed more sacks than any single tackle in the league, while in 2008 he infamously was torn apart by Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware during one of their regular season matchups.

While David Diehl is one of the premier run-blocking tackles in the league, his inexperience at the tackle position leaves him a great deal of room to improve in protecting his quarterback’s blindside.

While he has undoubtedly made some tremendous strides in this area, he still needs significant work in getting to the outside to protect against some of the league’s speedier pass rushers.

Unlike a guard, tackles are often required to have quick horizontal movement so that they can cut off the corner when a pass rusher attempts to circle around them.

A guard, on the other hand, can often take advantage of their cramped space to limit the mobility of the larger and slower defensive tackles. In order to improve in his pass protection, Diehl should put a lot of work into moving horizontally and reading the intentions of the opposing pass rusher.

If he learns to cut off the corner against dominant pass rushers like Demarcus Ware, Eli will have all the time in the world to make a pass, as Diehl already has established the strength to neutralize most pure power rushers.

If David Diehl can improve this aspect of his game significantly this offseason, he may be single-handedly responsible for the ring that will be placed on the fingers of each and every one of his teammates at the end of the 2009 football season.

Who Will Start At Wide Receiver for the New York Giants in 2009?

Jeremy Kaufman — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:30:06 -0400

For the first time in years, the New York Giants will be heading into training camp with absolutely no conception as to who their starting wide receivers will be. With Plaxico Burress’ exodus from New York, the Giants are now left to choose between a fading veteran, unproven backups, and several youthful projects for their starting lineup.

While deciphering over the Giants’ wide receiving core is enough to give even the most creative of fans headaches, I will now attempt to sort out the mess and project the depth chart at wide receiver for the New York Giants:

1) Steve Smith

While he may not be as talented as his namesake, Steve Smith will take over as the No. 1 receiving option for the New York Giants. This diminutive receiver may not have much big play ability, but has earned a reputation of being an incredibly reliable target, especially on third down.

2) Domenik Hixon

Hixon made the most of his seven starts in 2008, accumulating 596 yards during that time. In 2009, I believe this speed demon will continue to build up his production and establish himself as a reliable No. 2 receiving option.

3) Hakeem Nicks

He certainly doesn’t have the size of Plaxico, but Nicks’ possession receiving game is remarkably similar to that of the disgraced receiver. Even in spite of questions about his weight and work ethic, the Giants have a great deal of faith in their first round pick out of North Carolina. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the Giants top receiving option by season’s end.

4) Ramses Barden

He may have only been a 3rd round pick, but this 6’6 receiver out of Cal Poly has all of the tools necessary to become a superstar in the NFL. Not only is he the tallest wide receiver currently in the NFL, but he also has big reliable hands and the speed and leaping ability to become a serious red zone threat.

5) Sinorice Moss

The 5’8 under-achieving receiver still has a long way to go before he becomes even half the player that his brother is. Nonetheless, he is a talented athlete and has shown flashes of brilliance at times. If he can ever find it in him to reach his potential, he will become a very solid slot receiver.

6) Mario Manningham

This highly noted receiver out of Michigan accomplished absolutely nothing last year in his rookie season. While he was a superstar in college, he seems lost at the NFL level, and it will likely take another year or so before he becomes a significant contributor to this football team.

10 Questions For Zak DeOssie Of The New York Giants

Jeremy Kaufman — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:57:19 -0400

Zak DeOssie, the long snapper and backup linebacker for the New York Giants, is arguably the most under-appreciated player on the team today. Even after appearing in his first Pro Bowl last season, it seems as though only the most devoted of Giants fans even know his name.

Therefore, I felt it would be only appropriate that, should I be given the opportunity to interview a New York Giant player, I should start with DeOssie.

1) As I’m sure you know, there aren’t very many Ivy League graduates who go on to play in the NFL. When selecting Brown for your college education, did you have any intention of pursuing a career in the NFL?

2) At what point in your football career did you start to believe that playing in the NFL was a serious possibility?

3) Thus far in your NFL career, you have served as both a long snapper and backup linebacker for the New York Giants. Which role do you believe is more vital to the team’s success?

4) Which of your roles do you enjoy the most? Why?

5) As a graduate of Brown, it is likely safe to say that you are a rather intelligent individual. If you didn’t pursue a career in the NFL, what other career do you think you would have pursued?

6) What are your personal goals for your career in the NFL, both as an individual and as a member of a team?

7) At what stage of your football career did you learn to play as a long snapper? To what do you attribute your success thus far at the position?

8) Did you ever play any other positions in high school or college? If so, what did you play?

9) Which veteran players on the New York Giants have had the greatest positive impact on your playing career thus far?

10) What aspect of your game do you feel needs the most improving? How do you plan to improve that aspect of your game in preparation for the 2009 season?

If given the opportunity, I would love to ask Zak DeOssie all of the aforementioned questions, and I believe that his answers would make for a worthy read for all New York Giants fans and football fans alike.

As a soon-to-be alumni of the University at Albany, the home of the New York Giants training camp, I will be sure to spend time at the Giants camp this season, and hopefully the opportunity will arise for all of these questions to be answered.

Who Will Be The New York Giants' MVP For The 2009 Season?

Jeremy Kaufman — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:29:38 -0400

While football is undoubtedly a team sport first and foremost, it seems as though every team within the National Football League has one true MVP; namely, that one player who can carry the team to victory, and that one player whom that team certainly wouldn’t be successful without.

With that said, I will now assess the players who I believe will be candidates for the title of the New York Giants’ MVP for the 2009 football season.

Eli Manning, Quarterback

Any MVP discussion in football always has to begin with the team’s quarterback.

Eli put forth a solid 86.4 passer rating last season, complemented by 21 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. However, following the suspension of Plaxico Burress last year, Manning’s numbers took a serious dip as a result of missing his No. 1 target.

Physically speaking, Eli features an above average arm with solid mechanics and good touch on the deep ball. Furthermore, Eli has grown to become extremely proficient passing out of the play action and many of his greatest passes last year were a result of exactly that.

All in all, if the Giants’ are to have success this year, Eli Manning will have to be a major part of it, and for that reason I would say he is a solid team MVP candidate.

Brandon Jacobs, Running Back

With my second nomination, I will now take a look at Brandon Jacobs, the 6’ 4", 264 lbs running back who can literally carry his teammates on his back.

Despite his massive frame and reputation for not being one of the faster running backs in the game, Brandon averaged an outstanding five yards per carry last season, and can be expected to put up similar numbers next season.

Brandon’s totals of 1,089 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns are simply a sneak peak of what he can accomplish if he can stay healthy for a full NFL season.

In more qualitative terms, Brandon is a bruising running back who has the ability to both run around defenders as well as run over them.

Not only does he help his team by accumulating yardage and touchdowns, but the physical damage that he inflicts on the opposing defense benefits his team in ways that cannot be quantified.

However, Brandon’s receiving game does have much room for improvement, and his pass protection abilities could certainly be better for someone of his size.

If Brandon Jacobs can stay healthy next season and continue to improve in both his receiving and blocking duties, he will certainly be one of the most valuable members of the Giants’ 2009 squad.

Chris Snee, Right Guard

While the quarterback may be the most important individual on a football team, there is certainly no more important unit than the offensive line.

On the New York Giants' offensive line, there is no better player than the 6’ 3", 317 lbs Chris Snee.

Chris, who is actually the son in law of head coach Tom Coughlin, is a bruising road grader who helped pave the way for the New York Giants’ rushing game last season. In 2008, the Giants led the entire league with 157.4 team rushing yards per game, and Chris Snee certainly deserves a great deal of credit for that statistic.

In terms of his actual game, Chris Snee is the type of guard that running backs dream of. Chris is one of the best in the game when it comes to opening up lanes for the running back to run through, which is probably why so many different running backs have seemed to have success behind the Giants' offensive line.

In pass protection, Chris is certainly above average, and Eli seldom seemed to feel significant pressure from his side of the line. At the same time though, it should be noted that a right guard certainly has an easier assignment in terms of pass protection than a left tackle.

While Brandon Jacobs and the other running backs on the Giants’ squad get most of the credit, it would be hard for any of them to have the same kind of success without Chris Snee’s prolific run blocking.

For that reason, Chris undoubtedly deserves his nomination as team MVP.

Justin Tuck, Defensive End

In 2008, Justin Tuck absolutely exploded onto the NFL scene, becoming one of the most dangerous and well-rounded defensive ends in the game. Last season, Justin recorded 12 sacks, 67 tackles, three forced fumbles, and even one interception. These numbers rightfully placed Tuck in his first ever Pro Bowl.

On the gridiron, Justin features a solid repertoire of pass rushing moves that gives him a chance to get to the quarterback in any situation.

Not only can Justin rush the passer off the edge, but on third down he is even sometimes put in as a defensive tackle to rush the passer from the middle. Justin has had great success in this role, making him one of the most versatile defensive ends in the game.

Furthermore, at 6’ 5" and 274 lbs, Justin has the size to hold his own anywhere on the defensive line.

In 2008, Justin Tuck was arguably the best player on the New York Giants. While the Giants’ defense as a whole can be looked at as the key to the team's success, I firmly believe that Tuck’s contributions to this side of the football will be key in determining how far the Giants go in 2009.

Jeff Feagles, Punter

With my final nomination for the honor of team MVP for the New York Giants in the 2009 season, I will take a look at a very special teamer. This nominee is the 43-year-old punter, Jeff Feagles.

Despite his age, Jeff may still be the best punter in the NFL today. While several punters around the league have greater leg strength than Jeff, there may never be a better punter at pinning the football within the 20 yard line of the football field.

In fact, Jeff’s ability to place the ball exactly where he wants it is so prolific that he can sometimes carry his team towards victory on his leg alone. I believe Jeff is the only punter in NFL history, other than the great Ray Guy, to be that important to his football team.

While Jeff isn’t exactly a physically imposing guy, he does measure in at a formidable 6’ 1" and 215 lbs. Jeff’s longest punt in 2008 was a whopping 61 yards long, which is certainly impressive for any punter, let alone one at 43 years of age.

With 23 of his 64 punts last year placing the opposition within their own 20 yard line, Jeff can certainly be said to have been one of the better players on the Giants last year, and I expect to see more from him this year.

So, if Jeff Feagles continues to help the Giants win football games by pinning opposing teams in the tightest of corners on the field, he may very well come to be the team’s 2009 MVP.

Who do I think the New York Giants' 2009 MVP will be? I could tell you, but my opinion really isn’t that important. The question is; who do you think the New York Giants' 2009 MVP will be?

The Five Greatest Disabled Athletes of All Time

Jeremy Kaufman — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:29:49 -0400

Throughout the history of athletics, there have been a handful of athletes who have overcome overwhelming odds to become absolutely incredible athletes. These athletes, who range in experience from college to amateur to professional sports, all have achieved more than most under their circumstances could ever imagine. Here are the athletes whom I consider to be the 5 best disabled athletes of all time:

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