Bleacher Report - Articles by Vinny Yeager

Three Things To Watch For in the New York Giants' Final Two Preseason Games

Vinny Yeager — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:22:54 -0400

As we have all come to learn, a team's preseason play and record truly means nothing when it comes to the regular season.

Just take the 2008 Detroit Lions, for example. The Lions went undefeated in the preseason, but then went on to have a winless regular season campaign.

On the other hand, there is the New York Giants and their passionate and fierce head coach, Tom Coughlin. Coughlin usually expects his team to play well no matter if it's the Super Bowl or the preseason.

In the preseason opener, the Giants took on the Carolina Panthers and played a fairly good game. The first-team squads, on both sides of the ball, played well, and the reserves really didn't miss a beat when they entered the game.

The Giants came out of the game with a victory, and more importantly, no injuries that could cause massive panic over Giants nation. The same could not be said this past Saturday night when the Giants took on the Bears in Chicago.

New York looked awful in all phases of the game, and it didn't matter if it was the first-units or the backups. On top of the extremely poor play, Coughlin was not happy with the performance and let his team know about it.

The Giants broke camp at Albany today and have their next game Saturday night against the Jets, followed by a Super Bowl XLII rematch against the Patriots on Sept. 3.

Here are three things to watch for in the Giant's final two preseason games.

1. The Wide Receivers

This past year's offseason was filled with one question: "Who will step up and replace the former No. 1 guy, Plaxico Burress, and trusted veteran, Amani Toomer?"

Giant's GM Jerry Reese got on that quickly when he used the team's first-round pick in this past April's draft on North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and one of the third-round picks on 6'6" Ramses Barden.

Both players have had just average camps, even though Barden has opened some eyes and has somewhat out-played Nicks. Yet, Nicks and Barden haven't really showed up in the first two preseason games, and it will be interesting to see if they can adapt to the NFL style of game.

Other than the two draft picks, the Giants have tons of depth at the receiver position, starting with Steve Smith and Domenick Hixon. Smith was sidelined throughout camp but made his debut against the Bears, and Hixon has been a non-factor in the first two games.

Rounding out the depth chart is Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, David Tyree, and Derek Hagan. Moss and Manningham are both the same type of receiver and are battling for the third-slot receiver spot.

The battle between Tyree and Hagan is interesting because the winner will most likely see most of his time on special teams, while the other will probably be the odd man out and get cut.

2. The Defensive Line

In the offseason, before free agency hit, the Giants had one of the best defensive lines in the game. Then free agency time came about, and an already loaded defensive line got even better.

The Giants signed defensive tackles Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty from the Seahawks and Cowboys, respectively. Adding them to the mix, along with the Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Barry Cofield, Fred Robbins, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Jay Alford, New York's defensive front four looked unstoppable.

Yet the injury bug has once again hit Giants camp, and it doesn't look very good.

Bernard and Canty, who may be out longer than expected, have been injured throughout all of camp, and it looks like Alford's season may be done after he did some damage to his ACL and MCL in the Bears' game.

Umenyiora looks fresh coming off of last year's season-ending knee injury, but Robbins and Cofield are both still battling knee injuries of their own.

The area that is supposed to be New York's hot spot on defense must make sure it stays healthy in these next two games, or bad things could come about for the defense as a whole.

3. Eli Manning

It looks as though Manning's fat, new wallet was holding him down a little bit out on the field.

Manning, who is now a part of the $100 million club, has looked sluggish and out of sync with his teammates in the first two games. Nothing has happened in the passing game, resulting in two mediocre offensive performances.

Even though both starting offensive guards, Chris Snee and Rich Seburt, have not played due to injuries, that is no excuse for Manning's poor play. He is a Super Bowl MVP and should be able to be productive, even when everything isn't going perfectly for him.

Before the season opener against the division rival Redskins, Manning better make some solid chemistry with his receiving targets and just learn to trust them. He must get it through his head that Burress and Toomer, his two favorite targets, are now gone, and he has to be able to spread the ball around to a variety of different receivers to be productive.

The Giants cannot just walk through these two final preseason games and must make sure that they get solid productivity from everyone on the field, especially in these three areas.

Return of the Wind: Danny Ware Will Be Fine Replacing Derrick Ward

Vinny Yeager — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:12:10 -0400

The combination of Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward last season for the New York Giants was lethal, and was a key reason why the Giants won the NFC East.

Both running backs rushed for over 1,000 yards and were among the league's best duo's, along with the Titan's Lendale White and Chris Johnson, and the Panthers' Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams.

Ahmad Bradshaw, who was used mostly used to run down defenses in the fourth quarter, was also part of that three headed running game monster labeled, "Earth, Wind, and Fire."

Yet, Ward left the Giants after that productive 2008 campaign, and shipped himself off to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bradshaw will now be called upon to be the No. 2 guy behind Jacobs.

Bradshaw as already shown that he can get the job done, when in 2007, he was called to get a majority of the carries behind Jacobs when Ward went down with an injury earlier in the season.

Entering 2009, Jacobs will obviously have to carry the load, and Bradshaw will be there to be the change of pace back.

Earth and Fire are set, but will the three headed monster come alive again?

Danny Ware, a University of Georgia product, is now in the picture to become the new Wind and replace Ward. Although the depth chart doesn't go with the order of, "Earth, Wind, and Fire" these three running backs together can be better then last season's group.

Ware, 6'0", 234 lbs., somewhat erased the memory of Ward's 1,000 yard season last year when he ripped off a a long touchdown catch coming off a screen pass last Monday night against the Panthers. For an average sized running back, he his quick, but could also deliver with the powerful run game.

Coming into training camp, Ware was in a competition for the third running back spot with the Giant's fourth round draft pick in this past year's draft, Andre Brown from North Carolina State. The competition quickly ended when Brown went down with achilles injury and his now out for the season.

If Ware can fill the Giant's third running back spot, and Jacobs and Bradshaw can still be productive, the Giants should have no problem having a dominant running attack.

Killer Bs: Tight Ends Kevin Boss and Travis Beckum are the Buzz of New York

Vinny Yeager — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:32:49 -0400

When the New York Giants selected Kevin Boss in the fifth round out of Western Oregon in the 2007 draft, he could have been looked at as an afterthought, because the Giants already had established tight end Jeremy Shockey on the team.

Shockey went down with an injury toward the end of the season, and Boss immediately became the No. 1 guy throughout the dramatic 2007 postseason run and has never looked back.

The same could not be said for Travis Beckum, who the Giants selected in the third round out of Wisconsin in this past year's draft. Beckum can be a productive player right away and can be used a number of different ways.

Entering the 2009 season, all the talk about New York's offense has only been about how the Giants’ receivers will replace Plaxico Burress and long-time veteran, Amani Toomer. Along with Beckum, G.M. Jerry Reese selected wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden in April's draft to help rebuild the Giants' receiving corps.

Yet, any great quarterback will tell you that a tight end is a quarterback's best friend, and quarterback Eli Manning's confidence in Boss throughout last season was noticeable. Beckum will also be expected to be trusted by Manning and play a nice sidekick to Boss.

Boss will obviously be the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart this season and will be used in the normal offensive alignment, as well as being spread out as a receiver in some packages.

Beckum on the other hand, who will also line up in the regular tight position, will be used as an H-Back, which is similar to how the Washington Redskins use Chris Cooley. He could line up on the line of scrimmage, as a wing, in the backfield, and also spread out as a wide receiver; he can do a variety of different things whether its catching the ball or blocking.

The Giants have always only had one great tight end on the team, whether it was just Mark Bavaro or just Shockey. This year and years to come could be different because of the lethal combination of the Killer B's, Boss and Beckum.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.blogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com.

New York Knicks: Point Guard Crazy

Vinny Yeager — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:16:37 -0400

The New York Knicks are obviously not satisfied with just having Chris Duhon as their only steady point guard on the roster.

Duhon played very well in his first season in New York, but down the stretch, fatigue caught up to him and he was not the same player he was in the start of the season.

In this year's draft, the Knicks used their second first round pick, which they received from the Los Angeles Lakers, on Florida State guard Toney Douglas. Douglas can play the point guard, as well as the shooting guard position, and can do many great things with the ball, as well as on the defensive end.

The Nate Robinson talks around the league, and overseas, have died down, and it seems as though he may be coming back to the Knicks for at least one more season.

Yet, Donnie Walsh and head coach Mike D'Antoni are not ready to just enter battle with just these players on the roster.

New York has had serious talks with two candidates, and they would be Ramon Sessions and Jason Williams.

Sessions, who had a breakout year last season with the Bucks, averaging 12.4 points and 5.7 assists per game, could be the point guard of the future for the Knicks. He is young and athletic, and would really excel in the D'Antoni style of offense.

If New York does sign Sessions, it would be to a long term deal and that would truly solidify him as a Knick for a long time to come.

Williams is a different story because he has just come out of retirement and worked out with the Knicks this week.

He was claimed first by the Knicks, which means New York has the first shot at signing him. If Walsh and D'Antoni do decide on Williams, it would probably only be a one year deal.

Sessions may be the smarter choice for the Knicks, but Williams may be the cheaper choice, and all Walsh wants to do is make sure is team is under the salary cap for the 2010 season.

The Knicks have solid depth at the point guard position with Duhon, Douglas, and possibly Robinson, and the addition of either Sessions or Williams will make the team even better.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com and www.OrangeandBlueMedia.Webs.com

Plaxico Burress: His Legacy As a New York Giant

Vinny Yeager — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:14:31 -0400

"Manning, lobs it. For Burress. Alone. Touchdown New York."

Those infamous words from Joe Buck when Plaxico Burress caught the game winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLII was the greatest line Giant nation heard since "Wide Right."

Burress, right there and then, became an icon. He will always be remembered as the player who hauled in the most important touchdown in New York Giant history.

Burress signed with the Giants in the '05 and he provided that number one target that young quarterback Eli Manning needed. Amani Toomer was always a good receiver to throw to, but Burress provided that vertical, big-play ability.

In his first few seasons with New York, Burress was putting up outstanding numbers and was always leading the Giants' receiving corps. Whenever head coach Tom Coughlin was in need of a big play, he knew that Burress was the right guy to be called upon.

Although the Giants were a solid team, Burress' first two years with New York both ended with first round playoff loses to the Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.

In '07, New York was a Cinderella team and made a magical run throughout the playoffs, capping it off with a monumental upset of the once undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Burress and his teammates were on top of the world, and it seemed that nothing could go wrong.

New York entered the '08 season with a chip on its shoulder. No one was giving the defending Super Bowl champions the respect that they deserved. The Giants started off the season hot and it seemed like capturing back-to-back championships was possible.

Then tragedy struck to not only Burress, but an entire organization.

On a November night in '08, Burress was at night club when he accidentally shot himself in leg. Burress, who was with current Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, was rushed to the hospital to get medical attention.

Burress came away from the incident without any major injuries, but major consequences were soon to come.

He was out for the rest of the season, killing the momentum of the Giants' offense. Manning looked lost without Burress and had to depend on young receivers to step up to be number one threats.

New York's thoughts of another Super Bowl title were being questioned. They were totally erased from their minds after another first-round playoff lose to the Eagles.

Burress was released by the Giants this past offseason and is now going through the process of seeing of how much jail time he is going to receive.

Burress did a lot of great things for the Giants, and not many players can handle the number one receiver job in New York. He brought joy and tears to all when he caught that game-winning touchdown pass over Ellis Hobbs.

Unfortunately, all great things come to an end, and the Giants, as well as Burress, have to move on.

Antonio Pierce: Leader No Matter What

Vinny Yeager — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:45:48 -0400

Antonio Pierce has always been overlooked and overshadowed ever since his college career ended at the University of Arizona.

Pierce was not selected in the 2001 NFL Draft, but signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins.

He played well with the Redskins but was still not a standout player, and it was understandable why he wasn't drafted.

In 2005, he signed with the New York Giants and became one of the leaders of a defense that was on its way to greatness.

He was soon named one of the captains of the defense and truly showed what it meant to be a New York Giant linebacker.

As the past has told us, Sam Huff, Lawrence Taylor, and Harry Carson are some of the greatest linebackers ever, and although Pierce is not in that elite category, his heart and determination may soon propel him to that level.

The high point in Pierce's relatively young career was when his Giants defeated the once undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. That defense rallied around Pierce and his leadership throughout that entire run.

Yet, he is still looked down upon and has not been able to change people's minds about him.

During last year's somewhat disappointing campaign, Pierce was under the microscope many times. His leadership was now being questioned more than ever because Strahan was gone.

Once November hit, it seemed as though the wheels were falling off the bus for Pierce, and everything was going in the wrong direction. Brian Westbrook was running up and down the field, and a Super Bowl repeat started to become uncertain.

Then tragedy struck, and former Giant wide receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg at a night club. Pierce was there with Burress and tried to help him out.

Although there are many sides to the story, Pierce started to get into legal trouble.

This off-field distraction led to on-field chaos, and New York never looked like its old self, resulting in a first round playoff loss to the Eagles.

This leads us to present time and the upcoming 2009 season for the Giants. Big things are going to be expected from the team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Osi Umenyiora is back from injury, key free agents were signed, and the defense is starting to come together as a solid unit.

Even though some may disagree, this defense will not be successful in 2009 if Pierce is not in the middle of everything to call out plays and be the leader that he was meant to be.

Pierce has the right to wear the "C" on his jersey because he is not only a true leader for the defense, but for the entire team.

Also check out this article that I have written on www.BlogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

New York Knicks: Three Breakout Players In 2009

Vinny Yeager — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:34:53 -0400

The New York Knicks enter the 2009 season with a relatively young team and have young, up and coming players who are bound to become NBA stars.

With the addition of solid players in last month's draft and the progression of the level of play coming over from last season, the Knicks should have a positive season with players leaving their mark on the league and showing where they stand.

Three Knicks should break through this season and show that not only themselves, but the entire team is ready to once again compete in the Eastern Conference.

Wilson Chandler

Under rated would be one of the best words to describe how the league looks and feels about Wilson Chandler.

Chandler, New York's first round draft pick in 2007, finally showed everybody what he was made out of last season. He was one of the Knicks go - to players during close games and was always a big time performer.

Yet, last season was only a stepping stone for this future NBA star. Chandler will most likely move to the shooting guard position this season, which means more opportunities to score and put up big time numbers. The best and most exciting part of Chandler's game is when he uses his quick and explosive first step to drive to the lane, and work his magic around the rim.

Energy and enthusiam is what head coach Mike D'Antoni is looking for from his team, and that is exactly what he will get from Chandler night in and night out.

Toney Douglas

Despite only entering this season as a rookie, Toney Douglas should be a key component to the Knicks' success this season.

This past week at the Las Vegas Summer League, Douglas showed why he was a first round selection in this year's draft. He proved that he has the ability to run New York's style of offense and showed why he was the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Douglas is also showing that he can be th No. 2 point guard on the depth chart behind Chris Duhon, and getting rid of Nate Robinson would be no big deal. Being described by many people around the league as a, "Combo Guard," Douglas has the ability to shoot the open jump shot, drive to the basket, and also find his open teammates.

When New York goes to it's second unit this year, there should be no change of pace from the starters if Douglas is on the floor running the team.

Danilo Gallinari

Although he didn't get that much playing time last season due to injuries and is already being labeled as a bust, Danilo Gallinari is destined to come through in a big way for the Knicks this season.

Gallinari, New York's 2008 first round pick, deserves to play a big role for the Knicks this season, and should have the chance to put up some quality numbers.

Throughout last season, his transition from the European style of basketball to the NBA was noticeable. Yet, that is now behind him and he is only going to get better and become more comfortable with the game.

Despite only limited playing time, glimpses of greatness were shown last season, and if he can get healthy and work out his injuries, Gallinari should show why he was a top ten pick.

Between Chandler, Douglas, and Gallinari, all three of those players should break through in a big way for the Knicks this season, and lead the team in a positive direction.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com and www.OrangeAndBlueMedia.Webs.com

David Lee: Do the New York Knicks Really Need Him?

Vinny Yeager — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:33:36 -0400

The New York Knicks and team president Donnie Walsh are trying to figure out what to do with free agent forward David Lee.

Walsh wants to re sign Lee, but others teams are giving Lee a lot of interest and the Knicks might not be able to compete with those offers. Lee is asking for a good amount of money to play for, and New York might not be able to afford him since they want to make sure they stay under the salary cap for the 2010 season.

Yet, the true question may be, do the Knicks really need Lee to be able to succeed this season and also in the future?

Head coach Mike D'Antoni's offensive system requires all players, including the big men, to run up and down the floor at an up tempo pace. Lee fits that role nicely, but when it comes to the defensive end, he tends to struggle.

Due to the lack of a dominate center on the roster last season, Lee had to fill that role for New York, and it was noticeable that he was playing out of position. He is a true power forward, and when the Knicks would take on a team with a powerful center, he struggled highly.

Although he was the heart and soul of the team, and a fan favorite for the past couple of seasons, the Knicks may be better off going in a different direction with Lee.

New York drafted Arizona forward Jordan Hill in last months draft and also traded for 7'0'' center Darko Milicic, so it means New York is getting stronger in that area.

There have also been reports that Eddy Curry has gotten into much better shape this offseason, and if he can get back to his old form, a long side of Hill, Milicic, and current Knick center Jared Jeffries, New York might not need Lee to stay around.

Lee has been getting a lot of interest from the Portland Trail Blazers, who have lost out on some big name free agents, including Hedo Turkoglu, who decided too go to the Toronto Raptors.

Resigning Lee would be good for the Knicks, but if the two parties don't come to a deal, New York should not be heart broken if he lands somewhere else.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora are Bound For Greatness

Vinny Yeager — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:17:59 -0400

Throughout the entire history of the New York Giants, they have always had a solid defensive unit and had great players on those defenses.

Whether it was Sam Huff leading the charge in the 1950's and 1960's, or Lawrence Taylor winning Super Bowls in the 1980's and 1990's, the Giants' defenses have always been filled with outstanding players.

Yet, even though those two Hall of Fame players had great players and teams around them, two players on the 2009 Giants' defense might make people think twice and may re-write the history books of the organization.

Those two players are defensive ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, and both players are ready to lead this Giants' team to another Super Bowl run.

There are no comparisons to make between Tuck and Umenyiora, and Huff and Taylor because both of those players played on different teams and different positions. But, the combination of Tuck and Umenyiora may make people reconsider how great this 2009 team can truly be.

Dating back to the 2007 Super Bowl season, Umenyiora was becoming one of the best defense ends in the league alongside of Giant great, Michael Strahan. Tuck really came into his own and really made a name for himself during that postseason.

The Giants then entered that off season with a Super Bowl ring and retired legend when Strahan decided to call it quits. That opened the door for Tuck and all the attention turned toward himself and Umenyiora, and what a lethal combination they were going to be in 2008.

The 2008 preseason came about and the Giants were playing their Giants Stadium brother, the New York Jets. Umenyiora and his defense were on the field when tragedy struck. He was making a move up field when he made an awkward cut on his leg. That awkward cut turned into a horrific knee injury, which caused him to miss the entire 2008 campaign.

If the pressure wasn't already enough for Tuck, who was trying to fill the shoes of Strahan, he now had to be the main player on that defensive line without Umenyiora being there. The 2008 Giants went on to win the NFC Eastern division, but the absence of Umenyiora was highly noticed.

This now leads to present time, and the 2009 off season and training camp. Tuck has as solid, starting year under his belt and Umenyiora looks as though he his better and healthier than ever.

These two players have really never started alongside one another, but both of their styles are different, so this combination can work out well and go down as one of the greatest combinations ever.

Tuck provides the power and the strength, while Umenyiora is quick and fast off the edge. Offensive tackles throughout the league will always be having difficult matchup problems when they come across this duo.

The combination of Tuck and Umenyiora coming off the edge at defensive end will be giving opposing quarterbacks nightmares, and will make the 2009 New York defense one of the best in the NFL.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.blogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

Krypt-O-Gone? The Future of Nate Robinson As a New York Knick

Vinny Yeager — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:32:04 -0400

Nate Robinson can be one of the most exciting players in the entire NBA. He brings flash and style to his game, and you never know what he is going to do next when he has the ball.

Even though he can be some what crazy with the ball, over the past couple of seasons with the New York Knicks, he has truly matured as a professional basketball player. He could have easily won the Sixth Man of the Year award this past season because of his outstanding play coming off the bench.

Yet, although that may seem good and all, sometimes that "Showtime" type of basketball and continuous arguing with the officials would damage Robinson's reputation.

Knicks' head coach Mike D'Antoni would hate it when Robinson would make careless mistakes with the ball or pick up silly technical fouls, and D'Antoni would always give him an earful when he came off to the bench.

As of last week, Robinson is now a free agent, and there is a possibility that he may not be back in New York next season. Knicks' president Donnie Walsh wants to try to re-sign Robinson, as well as fellow Knick free agent David Lee, but he just may not be worth it.

During this offseason, the Knicks are making and trying to make moves to help their depth at the guard position, and that could be a sign that Robinson is on his way out the door.

New York drafted Florida State guard Toney Douglas with the 29th pick in this year's draft and are still trying to see if they can get a shot at making a deal for the Timberwolves first round draft pick, Ricky Rubio.

On top of that, the Knick's also signed guard Morris Almond, Utah's 2007 first round draft pick, to their summer league roster and have intentions on signing to him to the regular season roster as well.

Even with those moves at the guard position, the Knicks are still interested in bringing Jason Kidd to the team, even though it looks like he will be going back to the Dallas Mavericks.

As for Robinson, he has been getting some interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, as well as some other teams that are in need of a guard.

Robinson as been a spark plug for the Knicks over the past couple of seasons and has filled the seats of Madison Square Garden with his exciting style of play. Yet, that may come back to haunt him and he may not be suiting up for New York next season.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

Could Jason Kidd Attract Big Stars To New York Knicks In 2010?

Vinny Yeager — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:47:57 -0400

The New York Knicks' team president Donnie Walsh and free agent point guard Jason Kidd met yesterday to discuss the veteran player's future.

The Knicks have expressed interest in Kidd and he would provide that solid, ball handling point guard the Knicks need.

With questions floating around the Ricky Rubio situation and bad play down the stretch last season by Chris Duhon, Kidd would be that main point guard who could run the Mike D'Antoni system and get other players the ball in perfect times.

As tough as it is, this upcoming 2009 season for New York is truly just a building block for the free agent summer of 2010 where the big name players, such as LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh become free agents.

The Knicks are working themselves into getting under the salary cap and have made the team better by drafting power forward Jordan Hill and guard Toney Douglas, while acquiring center Darko Milicic in the Quentin Richardson trade.

New York is going to have to make sure that they have a productive and winning season this year, so Madison Square Garden looks attractive for these big free agents to play their home games in.

Yet, the bigger question may be, if the Knicks do acquire Jason Kidd this offseason, does his Hall of Fame resume attract the 2010 free agents to play in New York?

The truth is that Kidd is now 36 years old and may not be the best defensive player out on the market. But he took the New Jersey Nets to two NBA Finals and would provide tremendous leadership to this Knicks' squad.

The best part about Kidd's game is that he likes to run, and get up and down the floor at an up-temp style. Not only would that make D'Antoni happy, but that may also make players such as James and Bosh more interested in coming to the Knicks.

It is quite obvious that New York's No. 1 target in 2010 is James. Having a solid point guard who can get him the ball in space, will be more attractive than just having an average player or multiple players attempting to build chemistry with him. Just look at how much better he played this past season when Cleveland acquired an established, solid point guard in Mo Williams.

If the Knicks can land Kidd, his presence and outstanding skills as a point guard would attract the big name super stars to come to New York in 2010.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

Boley Injury: Panic Or Patience For New York Giants' Defense?

Vinny Yeager — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:56:55 -0400

One of the worst case scenario's that could have happened for the New York Giants this off season, happened last week.

Earlier this off season, the Giants signed free agent linebacker Michael Boley and had plans for him to fill in and start from day one with Antonio Pierce and Danny Clark. That linebacker core looks fantastic and would be very productive throughout the entire season, until something terribly wrong happened.

Boley had to go through surgery for his injured hip and will most likely be out for 8 - 10 weeks. That basically means that if that healing and recovering time is accurate, he will miss the next two months and who knows if he will be ready to play by Week one of the season.

With this injury taking place, do the Giants' defensive coaches panic and try to rush players like Gerris Wilkinson and Chase Blackburn back into the starting rotation, or should they be patient and make sure that all players get their time and snaps?

If New York's coaches did panic, that would not be the right thing to do and that would not allow the players to play their full potential. If they are just to be patient with everything, then the linebackers taking Boley's repetitions will feel more comfortable and build chemistry with their teammates.

This also isn't new for players like Wilkinson and Blackburn, who both started the majority games at the weakside linebacker position last year. They should have no problem at all getting back into the groove of things.

Second year man Bryan Kiehl, who saw most of his time last season on special teams, is another option the Giants can turn too to get some linebacker time in.

If Boley is not ready to go opening week against Washington, then the Giants will just move on with whoever is playing the best football at the time and wait till he is 100% and ready too go.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.blogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

New Knicks: Step In The Right Direction

Vinny Yeager — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:04:52 -0400

Even on the night of the draft, there were still plenty of questions swirling around about who the New York Knicks were going to select.

After Ricky Rubio and Stephen Curry, the two main targets the Knicks were looking at, fell off the board, New York took the best player available, Arizona power forward, Jordan Hill.

Although there was a mixed reaction from the Knick faithful at the draft, the choice to pick Hill is a solid one. He is a very athletic big man, who can run up and down the court. With that being said, Mike D'Antoni's system seems perfect for Hill to play and succeed in.

Hill has reminded some people in the NBA of Amare Stoudemire, who was outstanding when D'Antoni was the coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Yet, the best part of the Knick's drafting Hill is that he plays some of his best basketball on the defensive end of the court. New York desperately needs help in the interior, and Hill's presence will make the Knicks a better team defensively.

The drafting of Hill may cause concern for current Knick, David Lee, who may be on his way out the door. Although it seems that Hill would be a perfect compliment to Lee, having both on the team might not work.

Lee may also be on his way out because the Knicks traded away veteran Quentin Richardson to Memphis for big man, Darko Milicic.

This trade may seem bitter sweet for the Knicks because Richardson was the vocal leader for the Knicks on the court, and also in the locker room. Yet, it seemed like after the Knicks acquired Al Harrington last season, his playing time went down and he just wasn't a good fit on the team.

The arrival of Milicic may solve the Knicks' problems for having a true center on the team.

Although Milicic can go down as the one of the biggest busts in NBA draft history, he is still 7'0" and that is exactly what the Knicks need. The combination of Milicic and Hill can be very productive in the low post on the offensive end, as well as on the defensive side.

The Knicks also acquired the 29th pick in the first round from the Los Angeles Lakers. With this pick, New York got Florida State guard Toney Douglas. Although he was drafted by the Lakers, his rights were traded away and he is now a member of the Knicks.

Douglas, who always seemed over shadowed in the ACC by North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson, can score in many different ways and can work well in the Knicks' system. He may be the perfect back up for current Knick point guard, Chris Duhon, who is always looking to pass first, while Douglas changes that up and is a big time scoring threat.

Draft night for the New York Knicks went very well and Donnie Walsh, team president of the Knicks, is heading his team in the right direction.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

The Good and Bad of Ricky Rubio: Should New York Knicks Think Twice?

Vinny Yeager — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:14:47 -0400

The NBA Draft is only one day away, and it is still up in the air who the New York Knicks will select or what trades they will make.

The two options that look the most realistic for the Knicks are stay at the eighth spot and pick the best player on the board, or trade up with Memphis to the No. 2 spot and draft European sensation Ricky Rubio.

If the trade with Memphis does take place, New York should really consider thinking twice about selecting Rubio, because there are good and bad parts to his game and overall nature.

Here are the good and bad parts to his game, starting first with the positive outlook on this highly talented guard.

Great Point Guard Qualities

Mike D'Antoni's style of offense requires his team to push the ball up and down the court and rarely get into the halfcourt set.

Current Knick point guard Chris Duhon established that he does have the ability to do that, but he started to lack playing up-tempo toward the end of the season. Nate Robinson seems like the perfect guy to play in this system, but too many mistakes with the ball and a shaky relationship with D'Antoni stop him from excelling to be the No. 1 man.

When you think about and see how Rubio plays, you feel that D'Antoni's style of play was made for Rubio to play in.

Rubio likes to get up the court and be aggressive with the ball, causing some defenders to look embarrassed. That type of exciting play can be very productive for the Knicks and can turn a lot of close games into wins.

Another outstanding trait of Rubio is that he is an excellent passer. He is always finding the open man and making his teammates better. That being said, if he is able to knock down most of his shots, he will have no problem playing with the Knicks.

Experience

When some players enter the draft, they come out as freshmen and have only really played one year of truly competitive basketball.

That statement alone sometimes hurts those players' stock and causes teams to overlook them, no matter how good they are.

Rubio has gained plenty of experience playing overseas in Europe and has already become one of the best players outside of the United States.

The best experience that Rubio has gotten so far was in this past year's Olympics, when his Spanish National Team made it all the way to the finals, but then eventually lost to the United States. Although he only came away with a silver medal, he played exceptionally well against the world's elite and showed that he was bound for the NBA in that gold medal game against NBA veteran players.

Now to the not-so-good part of Rubio's game, which may make it a risky gamble if the Knicks do have the opportunity to select him.

Maturity

Although he played excellent basketball during the Olympics and in Europe, he is still only an 18-year-old kid who really only weighs in at about 190 pounds.

Some players in the NBA are massive human beings, and one box-out or screen could send Rubio into next week. That can be scary for the Knicks because they don't want him getting hurt if he is being considered the point guard of the future.

Even though he is scouted as such a highly talented player, the NBA is one of the most aggressive basketball leagues in the world, and Rubio most buckle up and make sure that he doesn't get rattled around and beaten down.

Experience

When it comes to experience in the game of basketball, there are always two sides of the coin.

As stated earlier, Rubio gained valuable experience playing in professional European leagues, as well as in the Olympics. Yet, there is a big difference between playing in those two spotlights and playing in the National Basketball Association.

The NBA is filled with action-packed, intense basketball, which may not be seen in other leagues around the world. Not only is it the most popular professional basketball league on the globe, but it is also the best. There is not another league in this entire universe that can compete with the NBA.

Plenty of foreign players, such as Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tony Parker, have succeeded in the NBA, but others, like Darko Milicic, have failed miserably.

If Rubio truly has game, then he will join the list of foreign players who have made a mark in the NBA.

Ricky Rubio is probably the most talented player entering this year's draft, but before the New York Knicks automatically decide to go after him, they should think twice.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com.

2009 New York Giants' Defense: Shades Of 1986

Vinny Yeager — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:39:10 -0400

When you think about the New York Giants organization, you automatically think about defense.

From the days of Sam Huff, too Lawrence Taylor, to even present day and the Super Bowl 42 winning team, the Giants have always been about hard nosed defense.

Yet, even though there have been great New York defenses, the 1986, Super Bowl winning team was one of the elite. Players such as Harry Carson, Carl Banks, Pepper Johnson, Leonard Marshall, George Martin, and of course Taylor, roamed the field for this outstanding squad that made offenses look embarrassing.

They were feared, and had a swagger about themselves, and made sure that none of their opponents left Giants Stadium without bumps and bruises, and black and blues.

Looking at the 2009 Giants, this team's defense has the ability to be just as good, or even better then that 1986 squad. Veteran players are coming back, free agents are filling vacant spots, and rookies are finding their role on the team.

Marshall and Leonard were two of the best Giant defensive lineman in the organization's great history, but Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck are looking to break that mark.

Umenyiora and Tuck, who have really started next to one another, can become one of the scariest tandems on the line. The combination of Tuck's strength and Umenyiora's speed can provide a lot of havoc for opposing offenses.

To go along with that lethal combination, New York also has veteran defensive tackles Fred Robbins and Barry Coefield, and two excellent free agent signings in defensive tackle Rocky Bernard and defensive line utility man, Chris Canty.

Although it is hard to compare anybody with the linebacker combination of Taylor, Carson, Johnson, Banks, and Reasons, this seasons Giants' linebackers are very solid.

Defensive captain and middle linebacker Antonio Pierce is coming back and ready to bring his defense back to the top. After Michael Strahan retired two years ago, Pierce has stepped up as the heart and soul of the defense.

Second year Giant Danny Clark and free agent acquisition, Michael Boley will line up beside Pierce and both bring unique qualities to the table. Clark is an excellent run stopper, and can also cover the pass, while Boley is quick and athletic, and can probably run with most tight ends and running backs in the league.

The 1986 defense did not really have that stand out defensive back, but the 2009 defensive back field is on the verge of being great.

Corner back Corey Webster as the been the number one man ever since the 2007 post season, and is counter part Aaron Ross should have a nice bounce back year after a rather disappointing campaign in 2008.

Kevin Dockery and Terrel Thomas, who have both made a splash over the past few seasons, will also get some more valuable time in certain packages.

Kenny Phillips, the Giants' 2008 first round draft pick, is looked upon to be the next great safety in the league. He a big time player, who can run and hit with recklessness, which is exactly what New York needs. Michael Johnson, who emerged as a starter last season, will be relied on to have another successful season.

The 1986 New York Giants' defense is one of the greatest of all time, and the 2009 team is trying to capture that same title.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.blogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

New York Knicks' Draft: Anything Is Possible

Vinny Yeager — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:22:44 -0400

In the 2009 NBA Draft, anything is truly possible for Donnie Walsh and his New York Knicks.

Entering this offseason, the Knicks are looking to fill a lot of spots and provide solid players that will be productive in the future. Going up and down the draft board, all the players that might drop to the eighth pick, which New York has, seem as though they will be productive for the Knicks.

Between drafting a big, powerful center or a crafty and quick guard, the list of possibilities goes on and on for the Knicks to draft. Trades are also floating around New York's radar and that could be the best direction the Knicks can go in.

At this point, its seems that everybody in the world has Davidson guard Stephen Curry as an automatic lock for the Knicks to draft. Yet, he can go early and the Knicks might have to look at another guard to draft.

New York as worked out guards Johnny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, and DeMar DeRozan, and all players provide their own unique qualities. Even with that being said, anyone of these players can come in and make an impact under Mike D'Antoni's up tempo style.

There is also the chance that New York will decide to not draft a guard and go after a forward or center.

Arizona forward Jordan Hill opened some eyes when he worked out for the Knicks and he seems like a real candidate to be drafted. He is a big, physical player, who can run and get up and down that court. That type of player seems perfect for what New York needs to be able to be a contender in the Eastern Conference.

The only way it seems possible for the Knicks to get a center, a player in which they definitely need, would be to trade up to the No. 2 pick with Memphis and draft Hasheem Thabeet. That might require trading away either David Lee or Nate Robinson in exchange for the opportunity to get Thabeet, which might not be that bad at all.

Another scenario that could happen with Memphis is if New York and Memphis swap picks and the Knicks draft European superstar, Ricky Rubio. This would probably also require getting rid of Lee or Robinson. Rubio might be a little bit of a stretch to draft because he is very young and not a lot of people really know if he is truly that good.

No matter what happens in this year's draft, the player the Knicks draft will be a solid player and the team will have a positive future.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

New York Knicks' Free Agent Options: Magic in a Bottle?

Vinny Yeager — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:15:52 -0400

The Orlando Magic's 2008-2009 season will be a run that will always be remembered in the NBA history books.

They were the underdog team in the Eastern Conference, but battled through adversity and found themselves in the NBA Finals playing against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Unfortunately, their magical run came to an end Sunday night when the Lakers wrapped up the series, taking home the trophy. Although that happened, Orlando had a great season with some outstanding players, some of which will be testing the pools of free agency this offseason.

Two of these Magic players are Hedo Turkoglu, who recently opted out of his contract, and Marcin Gortat, who backed up Magic superstar Dwight Howard for most of the season.

When the New York Knicks get into these possible acquisitions, things start to become interesting.

Donnie Walsh has already expressed interest in Gortat, who is a big, powerful center and the type of player New York desperately needs. Even though he played backup for most of this past season, people in and around the NBA have said that Gortat has the ability to be a starter in the league.

The main reason he has caught the Knicks' eye is because he plays his best basketball on the defensive end of the court. Having a defensive presence in the middle of the paint would provide wonders for New York.

Turkoglu may also be another one of the Magic's players who can be flying onto the Knicks' radar.

His style of play seems as though it might fit perfectly with the Mike D'Antoni system. He is a dead-on shooter who likes to push the ball and play with high tempo. Another asset of his game is that he likes to drive to the basket, which might bring a lot of productivity to the Knicks offense.

The Knicks should take some high interest in these two players because their qualities seem quite perfect for what the team needs to succeed and be contenders.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.BlogSpot.com

Life After Toomer: Can New York Giants Succeed Without Veteran?

Vinny Yeager — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:17:41 -0400

This entire offseason for the New York Giants has been circled around one question: How are the Giants going to replace Plaxico Burress at wide receiver?

It seems as though that question has been answered with Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, both getting drafted by New York in this year's draft.

Yet, the bigger question that might be floating around the Giants' wide receiver position is, how are the Giants going to to succeed without veteran leader Amani Toomer on the team?

Replacing a leader like Toomer might more a little more difficult than replacing a play-maker like Burress.

Toomer is the definition of what it means to be a New York Giant. He was a vocal leader on all the teams he was a part of and never bad mouthed anybody, no matter what the situation was. He wasn't one these "present day" wide receivers who show boat and dance after touchdown receptions.

He acted like he had been there before and always respected the game.

From catching the game winning touchdown against the Denver Broncos in 1998 to ruin their perfect season, to defeating the once unbeaten New England Patriots in Super Bowl 42, Toomer was always a beloved player by the Giant faithful.

Heading into this season, Toomer is no longer there, and New York will have to try to find a way too succeed without such a great leader on the field, as well as in the locker room.

The first player that comes to mind when replacing Toomer is third-year man, Steve Smith. Toomer and Smith have the same characteristics as a player and both play a similar game.

With Toomer no longer being around, quarterback Eli Manning will be looking to get Smith the ball on all three downs, instead of of him just being a third down option.

The Giants must also find another player who is going to be a vocal leader in the locker room, which is just as important as replacing him on the field.

Although his statistics might have gone down over the past couple of seasons, replacing Amani Toomer will be a hard task for this Giants' squad, and they must find a way to win ball games without him.

*Also check this article that I have written on www.blogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

If Trade with Memphis Takes Place, Who Do the Knicks Pick?

Vinny Yeager — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:10:34 -0400

The Memphis Grizzles currently hold the No. 2 spot in this year's NBA Draft, but the New York Knicks might be interested in making a trade for the rights of that selection.

The Knicks are currently at the eighth spot and are looking at drafting a variety of guards from Stephen Curry to Johnny Flynn.

Yet, New York has expressed intrest in trading with Memphis for the No. 2 pick, and if both teams could work something out, that would be a fantastic option for the Knicks.

Blake Griffin will most likely get drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, but there is a big toss up of who is going to be selected second between U Conn big man Hasheem Thabeet and European sensation Ricky Rubio.

The Knicks would be glad with any one of those future NBA stars, but if a deal goes down and the Knicks get the right to the second pick, who should they take?

In order to get that second pick, the Grizzlies will most likely want current Knicks Nate Robinson or David Lee in exchange for the pick. If the Knicks trade away Robinson, then Rubio must be the absolute choice, but if Lee is the man Memphis wants, then New York must go after Thabeet with no hesitation.

If the Knicks do lose Lee, then they will have no inside game what so ever. So adding Thabeet would be a big time pick up if that scenario does happen. If Robinson is the man packing his bags, then New York will not have that quick, flashy point guard, but the addition of Rubio will provide that same style of play for the team.

This trade is very possible for the Knicks, and the player they trade away, whether it be Robinson or Lee, should be filled in right a way by either Rubio or Thabeet.

Also check this article that I have written on www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

New York Giants: Three Breakout Players in 2009

Vinny Yeager — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:05:23 -0400

As the New York Giants go through their OTA's and off season workout programs, the team is looking for some new stars to step up and have break out seasons.

Some shoes must be filled from the 2008 squad, especially those of Plaxico Burress who was released from the Giants earlier this off season.

Although Burress' spot is biggest to fill on the offensive side of the ball, New York must also have great productivity on defense, as well as on special teams.

The defense must have a player whose going to take over the role of James Butler, who is now with the St. Louis Rams, because he was a veteran leader on that side of the ball.

A unique special teams player must also rise to the occasion, because if Domenik Hixon is going to be getting a lot of time on offense, then New York must have a solid return man who has the threat of taking it for six every time.

Here are the three breakout players, from all three phases of the game, who are projected to have fantastic seasons.

Offense - Steve Smith, Wide Receiver

With Burress now long gone, the Giants' offense must now look for that one threat to go to when the time is needed.

New York drafted Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden in this year's draft, and both players will be called upon to have great years.

Yet, as in the past two seasons, quarterback Eli Manning has always looked for a certain receiver to throw too when he is getting in trouble.

That player is third year man Steve Smith whose role should increase after the departure of Burress. Smith as always been used in the slot position and Manning always looked for him to be open on critical third downs.

Smith will now be looked upon more often because he has the most experience out of all the wide receivers. Hixon only started to come on towards the end of the 2007 season and throughout last season, Nicks and Barden are both rookies, and Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, and David Tyree have all been plagued with injuries in their first few seasons with the Giants.

Manning will be looking to get Smith the ball on all three downs, instead of just relying on him to always be open on third down.

Defense - Kenny Phillips, Safety

Although James Butler was not the super star player of the Giants' defense the past couple of years, he was a key component to the Super Bowl run as well as in last year's division winning season.

He followed ex-defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo to St. Louis and New York is looking for a stud to play along side Michael Johnson in the defensive backfield.

2008 first round draft pick Kenny Phillips should have no problem filling in as the full time safety for Butler.

Even though Phillips was only on the defensive side of the ball on certain packages, he did have two starts throughout the year, and also got some valuable time on special teams.

Phillips is a hard hitting, hard nose guy who loves to fly to the ball, which we saw glimpses of last season and throughout his entire college career at Miami.

He is looked at by many critics and analysts to become one of the next super star safeties in the league, and if he continues to learn and grow as an NFL player, there will be no difficulty in him taking over.

Special Teams - Ahmad Bradshaw, Kick Returner/Punt Returner

This part of the game is very important to the Giants and Coach Tom Coughlin loves winning the battle of field position.

Hixon and R.W. McQuarters did a very nice job in returning kicks and punts for the Giants, but with Hixon's role on the offense more demanding and McQuarters no longer being on the team, the battle for the return specialist is up for grabs.

Ahmad Bradshaw should come out of camp winning this job, even though his role on offense has also gone up and he will be the second running back due to Derrick Ward leaving for Tampa Bay.

Bradshaw also has experience returning kicks for the Giants and with his speed and agility, he always as the ability to take it all the way.

If he does a good job of setting up the Giants with good field position, he would be helping out his offensive teammates, as well as himself, in scoring more touchdowns instead of settling for field goals.

These three Giants' players should all have breakout seasons and contribute to the success that this team is bound to have.

*Also check this article that I have written on blogNYG.com

If I Were Donnie Walsh: New York Knicks' Draft Day Options

Vinny Yeager — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:00:31 -0400

Heading into the 2009 NBA Draft, the general manager of the New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh, has many options.

There are many possible trades that can happen and there is also the chance of Walsh just keeping the eighth pick and selecting the best player that is still available on the board.

Here are three options that Donnie Walsh can do for the Knicks on draft day.

1. Stay Put and Draft Stephen Curry

There is a lot of hype and media going around involving Davidson guard Stephen Curry coming to the Knicks.

This is a very solid option for New York because a player like Curry would fit well in the type of system that Coach Mike D'Antoni likes to run.

Curry is an excellent shooter and loves getting up and down the floor, which is exactly what D'Antoni wants to do.

Even though his first option has always been to shoot in college, he is a very underrated passer. It may take some time to make him a good NBA point guard, but under D'Antoni, that can happen in no time.

Curry is the best fit for the Knicks in this draft and if the team decides to stay with the eighth pick, and he is still on the board, there should be no reason why they wouldn't want to select him.

2. Trading Up to the Two Spot and Drafting Ricky Rubio

The Memphis Grizzlies currently hold the No. 2 spot in the draft this year and it is probably obvious that they would select European guard sensation Ricky Rubio.

The Los Angeles Clippers, who have the number one pick, will most likely select Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin. This means that the Grizzlies would be quite insane if they did not select Rubio.

This is when the Knicks come into play.

New York is looking for an exciting, play making point guard and Rubio would be the perfect player for that role.

Although it may seem that current Knick Nate Robinson plays that role, his inconsistency and bad relationship with D'Antoni might have him packing his bags for Memphis.

Trading Robinson and maybe another player or future draft pick to Memphis, for the No. 2 pick and the ability to draft Rubio would be an absolute dream come true for New York.

3. Trading Up a Few Spots and Drafting an Established Point Guard

There are a lot of very good point guards in this year's draft.

The Knicks should really consider trading up just a few spots with teams such as Washington Wizards, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors, so they can solidify themselves and make sure they draft an experienced point guard.

Players such as Jonny Flynn and Jrue Holiday have already established themseleves has great point guards and can run their respective teams too perfection.

This would be excellent for the Knicks because knowing that they can draft a point guard who has already proven himself would be better then seeing if Curry can make the transition from shooting guard to point guard that well in the NBA.

If a trade like this does take place, Robinson and other Knicks such as David Lee might be headed to a new home.

Donnie Walsh and his staff can go in many different directions when draft day rolls around.

*Also check this article that I have written on MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

Knicks' 2010 Free Agency: Just Lebron Or Multiple Players?

Vinny Yeager — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:48:57 -0400

When the New York Knicks enter the 2010 free agent market, many decisions will have to be made.

The most publicized decision relates to whether LeBron James will be coming to New York and try to turn the franchise around. But is that the best move that the Knicks can make?

Other notable NBA stars such as Dwayne Wade, Tracy McGrady, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, and Steve Nash will be free agents in 2010 and looking for new teams to play for.

If the Knicks plan on signing James, that is probably the only player that the team will be able to afford because, as the best player in the game, he will only accept the best offer on the table.

The smarter move for the Knicks may be signing two of these low key stars and getting more productivity out of them.

The Knicks could probably be better off if they decided to go down that road and sign two players. Not only would it save money, it would also bring multiple super stars to the team, which could work out well.

The old saying states that, "two is always better than one." That statement can hold true for New York in this particular situation. Just looking at the other notable players, some of the combinations could can be lethal.

Imagine Dwayne Wade tossing a lob to Amare Stoudemire who slams it down to ignite the Madison Square Garden crowd. Or imagine Steve Nash running a fantastic fast break, dishing it off for Chris Bosh to finish.

Those amazing sights could be seen if the Knicks are smart and responsible with their money.

Before the entire Knicks franchise and the city of New York falls in love with LeBron James, the combination of two stars could provide a more reliable championship run.

*Also check this article that I have written on MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

Danny Ware, Andre Brown Compete for Third Spot: The Running Back Battle

Vinny Yeager — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:26:37 -0400

For the past two seasons, the combination of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw have gone by the name of "Earth, Wind, and Fire."

Jacobs was deservingly named "Earth" because of his hard-nosed style of running, Ward went by the name of "Wind" because he was the most versatile of the backs, and Bradshaw was nicknamed "Fire" because of his ability to show up defenses late in games.

Entering OTAs and training camp, the Giants will have to replace their last group member, as Ward signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason.

This leaves room for third year Giant, Danny Ware, and fourth round draft pick Andre Brown to compete to be the third running back on the depth chart.

Although Ware has been around the league for a while, he really doesn't have excellent experience in the game, and Brown is just a rookie, so it may take time to see if he really has the full potential to be a productive NFL running back.

After catching glimpses of Ware in the preseason and toward the end of last season, you can tell that he has the ability to be New York's third down running back. He is a fairly big guy, with pretty good speed and movement.

Brown, a 6'0", 224-pound North Carolina State product, seems to be a pretty powerful player who could also balance out his style by having break away speed as well.

This competition will be very interesting to watch throughout camp, and whoever gets the nod as the third running back will have no problem replacing the shoes of Derrick Ward.

Also check out this article that I have written on blogNYG.com and MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

LeBron Losing: Bad Sign for New York Knicks in 2010

Vinny Yeager — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:40:36 -0400

All the hype and media that has been going around dealing with LeBron James coming to the New York Knicks in 2010 might have just gone down a notch.

King James and his Cavaliers lost Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Orlando Magic last night.

If Cleveland would have went on to win that series in seven games, and then defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, James's chances of coming to the Knicks would have been much higher.

He would have given the city a MVP Award and a NBA Finals trophy, and then he could have went on his merry way to New York City.

Since that did not happen, James has one more opportunity next year to win a championship for Cleveland and give them what they want. If they do not succeed in winning the championship next year, his odds of resigning with the Cavaliers would be much higher because all he wants to do is win a championship for the city of Cleveland and his team.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are also in discussion with Chinese investors who are interested in buying a part of the organization.

That is just another bad sign for the Knicks because if they do buy the Cavaliers, then they will throw millions of dollars at James to stay with the team.

As it stands right now, the closest LeBron James is to New York City is his Yankee hat that he wore to a 2007 playoff game between the Yankees and the Cleveland Indians.

*Also check this article that I have written on MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

1999 Magical Run: Motivation for the 2009 Knicks

Vinny Yeager — Sat, 30 May 2009 11:34:02 -0400

The magical run that the 1999 New York Knicks had to the NBA Finals will always be embedded in every Knick fan's memory.

From GM Ernie Grunfeld getting fired in mid-season, to Allan Houston's game-winning runner against the Heat, to Larry Johnson's 4 point play in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers, that entire season will forever go down as one of the greatest in Knick history.

The greatest part about that season is that fact that New York became the first No. 8 seed ever to reach the NBA Finals.

That statistic right there should motivate the 2009 New York Knicks and should make them believe that they have a chance to bring home the championship trophy.

Like this year's Knick team, the 1999 team didn't have fantastic, superstar players either.

Patrick Ewing's knee was getting worse as the season went on, Latrell Sprewell was very unlikable by fans and officials of the NBA, and people were questioning if Larry Johnson was still the superstar player he once was.

Even with all that blowing around them, coach Jeff Van Gundy led his team into battle every night, having the confidence and knowing that his team can compete for an NBA Championship.

The 2009-10 Knicks should have that same mentality when they enter the season as underdogs in the Eastern Conference.

For the past couple of years, the Knicks have been the laughing stock of the NBA, but this year's team should have the strength and willpower to stop that.

The unbelievable 1999 run the Knicks had should be motivation for the 2009 Knicks to climb out of the cellar of the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, and bring a winning attitude back to New York City.

*Also check this article that I have written on MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

New York Giants Receiving Tandem Has Potential for Greatness

Vinny Yeager — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:12:01 -0400

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Minnesota Vikings had the deadly combination of Randy Moss and Cris Carter at wide receiver.

Although tempers did flair between these two players, their collective production was unbelievable. The stats they put up with quarterbacks Randall Cunningham and Daunte Culpepper were amazing, and they could go down in history as one of the greatest wide receiver duos ever.

The same eventually could come true for New York Giants rookie receivers Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.

Both of these players have tremendous talent coming into their first seasons and can can only get better as their careers go on.

The only difference in Moss and Carter's comparison with Nicks and Barden is that Carter was already a seasoned vet by the time Moss came to the team.

Nicks and Barden are both entering the NFL as rookies and can make each other better by working together from the start.

The two Giants rookies both show great hands, as did Moss and Carter, and they give quarterback Eli Manning excellent targets. They will make Manning's job much easier if they bring in most of the balls that are thrown in their direction.

If Nicks and Barden work hard enough, they will find themselves among the league's top receiver duos and can go down as one of the greatest pair of receivers of all time.

*Also check out some of my work at BlogNYG.com.

Donnie Walsh, Reggie Miller, and Stephen Curry: Irony for the New York Knicks?

Vinny Yeager — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:33:10 -0400

In the 1987 NBA Draft, then GM of the Indiana Pacers, Donnie Walsh, took a huge gamble with the 11th pick.

With soon to be future NBA stars such as Mark Jackson and Reggie Lewis still on the board, Walsh took a massive risk and selected a skinny and scrawny shooting guard named Reggie Miller out of UCLA.

When Pacer fans heard this selection, they booed and got right on Donnie Walsh's case.

Little did these fans know, Reggie Miller would not only go onto to be the all-time leader in three pointers made, but also a New York Knick killer throughout the 1990's playoff runs.

Fast forward to this year's NBA Draft.

The Knicks have the eighth pick this year and can go in many different directions and are interested in a various number of players.

Yet, the player that seems to be right at the top of New York's draft board is a skinny and scrawny shooting guard named Stephen Curry.

Ironic?

Now, Stephen Curry may not turn out to be as great as Reggie Miller was, but the way it seems, Donnie Walsh does have a pretty good history of drafting skinny, yet lethal shooters.

Maybe one day we will see Stephen Curry hitting clutch shots in the playoffs for the Knicks, breaking the hearts of other teams' championship dreams.

After what Reggie Miller did to the Knicks all those years, that sight wouldn't be that bad to see at all.

*Also check out this article that I've written on MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

New York Knicks: Offseason Prediction

Vinny Yeager — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:24:57 -0400

Before the Summer of 2010 arrives, the New York Knicks have some offseason thinking to do for the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

The Knicks must be able to keep players who will help contribute to the team and also drop players who will do no such thing and just waste salary cap money.

The NBA Draft is also coming up, so New York will have to make a solid draft pick if they want to compete for a championship in the upcoming seasons.

Free Agency should also be a huge option for the Knicks and they could pick up a big name guy if they choose the right player and throw a good deal at him.

Here is a predicted preview of what the New York Knicks will do this offseason.

Who to Keep?

To have a chance to win a championship in the NBA, you must know which players you need and want to keep.

The Knicks have many of those players but only some should come back to the team next season.

At guard, New York must keep Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson. These two point guards both run Mike D'Antoni's offense fairly well and know who needs the ball when the time is right.

Although there are many rumors floating around that Robinson will be traded to another team, I feel that he will stay right here in New York and help this team succeed. Duhon should also stick around because without him last year, the Knicks are nowhere near playoff contention.

With the other guards on the team, there are some question marks.

Out of the rest of the pack, Wilson Chandler should stay with the team.

Chandler is an up and coming superstar in the league and the Knicks would be stupid to let him go.

At forward, the Knicks once again have some big time decisions to make.

Danilo Gallinari and Al Harrington should be kept on the team just because of what they bring to the table.

Gallinari was the team's first round draft pick last year and started to show some promise before injury ended his season.

The decision to keep Harrington might be a risky one, but he brings passion and emotion to this team and that's what they need. He also led the team in scoring this past season, so that would be a big reason to keep him, don't you think?

Now the big question arises. How are the Knicks going to win if they don't have a dominant center?

Yes, it is obvious that the Knicks do need a powerful and big center in the middle, but that question would not be answered by letting go of David Lee and Jared Jeffries.

Lee is the absoulte heart and soul of the Knicks. He is the blue collar guy on the team that works hard despite the fact that he is undersized. Releasing him or trading him could be the single worst move the Knicks could make at this time.

As for Jeffries, he is also a hard worker who is mainly in the game to grab rebounds and play solid defense. A defensive minded guy is always needed on a team and that is exactly what Jeffries brings night in and night out.

Who to Drop?

Even though getting rid of players is a sad day, players and fans alike must get over it and know that whatever happens is for the betterment of the team.

This statement speaks the most truth for guard and Knicks fan-favorite, Quentin Richardson.

Richardson always played with intensity and knew that the name on the front of the jersey was always more important then the name on the back.

Yet, his time with Knicks might be up because it seemed at times that his playing time was going down and that he just wasn't on the same page as the rest of the team.

A player in which Knick fans can't wait to get rid of is center Eddy Curry.

For the past two seasons, all Curry has been is a huge distraction, literally, and showed no improvement on the court.

Releasing Curry will finally provide the Knicks some salary cap money and the opportunity to sign a player who will work hard for the team.

The last two Knicks that will be saying goodbye to Madison Sqaure Garden are midseason acquisitions, guard Larry Hughes and center Chris Wilcox.

Both did show promise in their short stints with the team, but both looked out of place and didn't seem to fit the D'Antoni style of play.

New York will probably get rid of their ten day contract players such as Joe Crawford and Mouhamed Sene.

Who to Draft?

Although the Knicks are in a desperate need of a dominant big man, they will probably not acquire one in the NBA Draft.

The two big name centers, Hasheem Thabeet and Blake Griffin, will most likely be both off the board by the time the Knicks get to draft.

So with that being said, the Knicks will most likely go after guards Stephon Curry or European sensation Ricky Rubio.

Both players would provide big time scoring threats for the Knicks and would help improve the team offensively.

Curry and Rubio are quick players who can make it difficult for opposing guards on the defensive end of the court as well.

Who to sign in Free Agency?

As we already know, the big name players such as LeBron James, Dewayne Wade, and Chris Bosh will all become free agents in 2010.

Before that even takes place, New York must focus on this year's free agent class and try to pick up a dominant big man or a powerful and dynamic forward.

The Knicks should have their eyes on two guys especially: Carlos Boozer and Shawn Marion.

Boozer is a big and powerful player who can play both the center position as well as at forward.

He can hit the jump shot from mid range and also be an intimdating prescense on the defense end and on the boards. He would be the perfect compliment to David Lee.

Marion can also provide that threat on the offensive end and also play harassing defense.

He also brings alot of emotion to his game and the Garden faithful loves it when players are excited to play.

Donnie Walsh and the Knick's front office will be very busy this offseason trying to make this New York Knicks team a winner once again.

New York City Media: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Vinny Yeager — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:34:29 -0400

When a star athlete comes to a New York sport's team, the first question they get asked is, "How do you think you will handle the New York City media?"

Most players just blow the question off and laugh about it, but in reality, the New York sport's media is one of the scariest things in sports.

Just ask Alex Rodriquez.

The sport's media consists of newspaper journalists, radio, television shows, and play-by-play as well as color analysts for local team's games.

Some of these guys are great and know exactly what they are talking about, while others make you think, "What are they talking about?"

Here is a breakdown of all three of the major media categories of the New York City media.

Newspaper Journalists

Personally, I feel the New York newspapers are the strong point of the media and always write the correct information as well as provide excellent insight.

New York has many newspapers including the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and Newsday.

Writers such as Frank Isola, Mike Lupica, Ralph Vacchiano, Larry Brooks, and Mike Vaccaro always provide great coverage and get the inside scoop on what's really going on inside the locker room, as well as on the field or ice.

Most of these guys are fans of the teams that they are writing for, so they will always go that extra mile to get the information that others might not be able to get.

Plus, this is New York City, the City That Never Sleeps, so these writers are always working and making their readers more knowledgeable about their sport's teams.

Radio and Television Shows

This is where the controversy truly begins.

New York City is all about opinion. Everyone has the same ego and think that they are always right no matter what.

WFAN radio host Mike Francesa best fits that statement.

Francesa could truly care less about what you think and always feels that he is right.

I was listening to his show one day and Francesa was talking to a man who called into his show. The conversation got a little heated and Francesa went on about how no one cares about this guy's opinion

News flash to Mike Francesa, no one cares what you think either.

On a more positive note, there are other good New York radio shows such as, Boomer and Carton and Benigno and Roberts.

Sport's television shows are also a big hit, especially on SportsNet New York.

"Daily News Live", "The Wheelhouse", and "Loudmouths" are always great shows on weekday afternoons on SNY.

Play by Play and Color Analysts

Now this is where the Good and the Ugly really meet.

Although watching a Knick's game might not be as entertaining or as fun as maybe a Laker or Celtic game, the guys behind the microphone do a fabulous job of calling the action.

Mike Breen along with Knick legend, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, always do an excellent job of calling the game. Both announcers are always talking about what's going on out on the court and rarely ever get side tracked and discuss other topics.

If you watch a enough games and listen to Clyde, your vocabulary will get ten times better, guaranteed.

On the other side of the spectrum, there is Michael Kay, who is the play by play announcer for the Yankees on the YES network.

Baseball broadcasting legend Mel Allen would be very disappointed in the way Kay calls a game.

He is always talking about something other then baseball and sometimes his partners, Ken Singleton, Paul O'Neil, David Cone, and John Flaherty, just have no idea what he is talking about.

If I were Michael Kay, I would just try to keep my mouth shut and just talk about baseball.

Evaluating The New York Giants's Draft: Day Two

Vinny Yeager — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:20:30 -0400

The New York Giants followed an already productive Day One of the NFL Draft with a very solid Day Two.

Most critics and analysts say that the true winners and players are always found and chosen in Day Two in the later rounds.

From the looks of it, its seems as though the Giants may have picked some talented players who have the ability to contribute to the team right away.

New York started off Day Two in the third round very quickly when they traded up with the Philadelphia Eagles to the 85th spot and selected wide receiver Ramses Barden from California Poly.

With their other third round selection, the Giants choose Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum.

Barden is a 6'6", 228 pound machine. He's a big receiver who can go up and catch any ball that is thrown in his direction. That is huge for quarterback Eli Manning because, as we all know, the winds in the Meadowlands toward the end of the season start to go crazy and Barden will have the height and the ability to bring those balls down.

Although he played at a lesser level of competition in college, he put up amazing numbers and was the face of his team. If Barden works hard in camp and throughout the summer, he can find himself in the third or fourth receiver spot.

The Giants went in the right direction when they picked up tight end Travis Beckum.

Beckum, who is listed at 6'3", 238 pounds, will be the draft pick that makes the most impact right away during this year.

He is a perfect compliment to three-year veteran tight end Kevin Boss and isn't that good of a blocker, so that still leaves room for Michael Matthews, who did most of the blocking for the Giants last season.

Beckum can work the middle of the field and can provide a safe bet for Manning to throw too.

Later in Day Two, New York selected North Carolina State running back Andre Brown in the fourth round and Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar in the fifth round.

Brown, who is a big, physical back listed at 6'0", 226 pounds, can be that nice third running back the Giants are looking for if he works hard enough for it.

Brandon Jacbos and Ahamad Bradshaw have pretty much locked up the first and second spots on the depth chart respectively, so Brown will have to beat out Danny Ware for that third spot.

The selection of Rhett Bomar was intresting and also quite surprising.

If you haven't already heard his story, Bomar was the starting quarterback at Oklahoma but then himself in a huge scandal regarding money and he had to transfer to Sam Houston State.

If he does make the roster, Bomar will be the third-string quarterback behind Manning and David Carr.

To finish off Day Two, the Giants selected two corner backs in the sixth and seventh rounds.

In the sixth, New York took DeAndre Wright out of New Mexico and Stoney Woodson from South Carolina in the seventh.

The Giants seem to be already set at corner back with Corey Webster and Aaron Ross in the starting spots and Kevin Dockery and Terrell Thomas battling for the third and fourth spots.

Wright and Woodson will have to battle for that fifth cornerback spot and which ever out-performs the other will be handed the spot. If both make the team heading into the season, they will make a nice splash on special teams.

Overall, the New York Giants draft was very successful, just like in past years. Let's hope these guys can put it together and help contribute to a winning team.