Bleacher Report - Articles by Phil Kohen

AFC North On The Lite Side

Phil Kohen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:21:58 -0400

Here we are on the doorstep of yet another week in the NFL. For most teams it is the unofficial half-way point in the season. For others, they wish it was the last game of the season.

Rams, Titans, Browns, Chiefs and Tampa Bay, to name a few, would like to be on vacation. Oh wait a minute, they have been on vacation since August! It's hard to tell the difference sometimes.

There is a huge "marquee" game this weekend when the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings, with their new upstart quarterback with a weird last name, visit The Green Bay Packers in a showdown of two teams in the "black and blue" division called the NFC North.

There are some good second-level games to watch: Giants/Eagles, Jets/Dolphins, and maybe Houston/Buffalo.

The rest are headlined by Lions/Rams. Need I say more?

Coming off their bye week, the Baltimore Ravens (3-3) host the first place Denver Broncos (6-0) in Baltimore this Sunday.

Baltimore went into their bye week suffering from three very tough losses against the Patriots, Bengals and Vikings. They lost those three games by a combined total of 11 points.

The defense was uncharacteristically undisciplined, and QB Joe Flacco seemed unnerved at times. The offense ranks in the top ten in four major categories: points/game, yards/game, rushing yards/game, and passing yards/game.

The defense is only giving up 91 total rushing yards per game, good enough for seventh-best in the league, even though they have given up over 100 yards in each of the last two games. There has been a lot of talk about the decline of Ray Lewis' game in the middle of the linebackers as a reason for the rush defense going up.

But they are giving up almost 22 points/game (19th), giving up 333 total yards/game (19th), and 242 passing yards/game (23rd). These defensive numbers are not the norm for this team.

The Broncos will not be a walk in the park. Their defense leads the league in average points scored against with only 11 points per game. Mike Nolan has revamped the Broncos defense into one of the stingiest in the league.

The Broncos run a 3-4 defense. In Week Two against the Chargers, quarterback Joe Flacco completed 17 of 26 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked only once.

That will have to be the kind of day he will need again to get The Ravens back on the winning side. My prediction: TAKE BALTIMORE <3.5> OVER DENVER.

The other team from the AFC NORTH participating in a game this weekend is the 1-6 Cleveland Browns facing a Chicago Bears team that lost to Cincinnati last week. Former Bear Cedric Benson, ran for 186 yards against his former team, so the Bears will be looking to bounce back at home.

The Browns are in such disarray, Coach Eric Mangini believes that QB Derek Anderson still gives them the best shot of winning this week. Anderson threw for under 100 yards last week.

Am I missing something here about Anderson? He must have some dirt on Mangini.

The Browns' MVP this season is sure to be Punter Dave Zastudil. This will be his biggest challenge yet as Chicago Bears punt returner is Devon Hester. Cleveland's opponents have averaged less than seven yards per punt return. One shining stat for the Browns.

My prediction: TAKE CHICAGO <13.5> OVER CLEVELAND

Both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have their bye week this week.

Check out THE SPORTS ZOO radio show on FOX SPORTS RADIO 920-KBAD, LAS VEGAS on Saturday mornings from 6-7AM PST

Or log on to www.lvsportsandentertainment.com and click on our mascot to be taken to the live stream site or archived shows.

Until Next Time......

NFL HOF Injustice: Joey Browner Is Not in Canton

Phil Kohen — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:28:17 -0400

Former Minnesota Viking Great Joey Browner is once again on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.

Joey Browner, Minnesota Vikings 1982-1991, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1992. Five time Hall of Fame Nominee, six time Pro Bowl Player. Starter on ALL TIME 1980’s defensive team NFL. One of the hardest hitting defenders to EVER play the game.

Just ask any of his peers about whether Browner should be inducted and they will ALL tell you it is LONG overdue!

The fact that he has not been enshrined yet is a terrible injustice to football and to Joey Browner’s football career.

Log on to www.profootballhof.com, www.fanchoice.com, or www.lvsportsandentertainment.com.

Click on the button that says vote now. Search by team, click on Minnesota Vikings, click on "BROWNER".

You can let your voice be heard and tell the voters that Joey Browner should be FINALLY voted in to the Hall of Fame.

You can compare his stats to those on the ballot as well as those who have already been voted in.

Joey Browner, Minnesota Vikings 1982-1991, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1992. Five time Hall of Fame Nominee, six time Pro Bowl Player. Starter on All time 1980’s defensive team NFL.

When Is a Win Not a Win?

Phil Kohen — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:40:21 -0400

So here we are. The start of another NCAA Football & NFL season.

Are you ready for some football...wagering?

I want to share this anecdote. My college alma mater, Penn State, defeated Syracuse yesterday by a score of 28-7. The point spread on the game, at the time I reported it on 'THE SPORTS ZOO' radio show here in Vegas, was 28.5 points with Penn State as the favorite.

Now for the small few of you who do not follow Penn State football, and I know there are only a few of you, Joe Paterno has always had a lot of respect for the game and sportsmanship.

Generally speaking, he doesn't "roll up" the score like many other teams will do to earn browny points with any potential polls. This is evident by the large number of 50, 60 or 70 points that seem to be scored every week by one team or another on game day.

As a proud supporter of my alma mater, I was delighted that The Nittany Lions took care of business. (The fact Penn State beat my wife's alma mater added a little more satisfaction!)

So I called my Dad Saturday afternoon, just to check in and chat with him, and as ususal our conversation turned to the game. The first words my Dad said to me were, "They didn't cover. They should have crushed Syracuse because they are not very good. They couldn't beat them by more than 28 points!"

I responded by reminding my Dad, that Joe Paterno does not operate that way. They won the game, they played hard and are now 2-0.

Did I miss the memo that the wager is more important than the actual win for your favorite team?

One solution would be to not bet on your favorite team, so your heart and head do not clash when in that situation. You can root for your team with all the enthusiasm of a college freshman and enjoy the result without worrying about the effect it will have on a 10-team parlay that you are counting on to pay the mortgage!

That is why I can never bet on my teams: Penn State & The Giants. My passion for these teams will not allow me to lose sight of the fact that winning the game is what I really want as the result.

Now I have to admit, I place a bet now and then during certain major events like The Super Bowl, but to me, I work too hard for my money to be disappointed when my team wins but they could not cover the spread.

I watch my teams as a way to relax and escape any stress. By adding the result of a bet to the game, adds more stress, which is exactly what I want to get away from!

So I ask you again, when is a win not a win?

This should never be a question in the first place.

Until next time...

Reggie Jackson: Right Hall Of Fame Hat?

Phil Kohen — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:11:48 -0400

With the completion of the 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies behind us (congrats to Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice and the late Joe Gordon), I became involved in a rather lengthy discussion with a my radio partner about why players choose a certain team hat to wear over another they played for when enshrined.

One person's name came up during this debate: REGINALD MARTINEZ JACKSON.

When you hear his name, you pretty much think of one thing: HOME RUNS. Maybe his arrogance, "the straw that stirs the drink" confidence, run-ins with Billy Martin and Thurman Munson, Reggie bars and who knows what else may also come to mind.

But for the most part, it was that sweet swing when you just knew it was going out.

His monster home run while playing for the Athletics, during an All-Star game in Detroit that completely cleared the old Tiger Stadium, gets talked about even today.

The debate was rather simple. Why a Yankee and not an Athletic or Angel? Of course we also wondered if there was a private conversation with a certain team owner regarding which cap to wear into the Hall of Fame.

Just curious of course.

Does the nickname "MR. OCTOBER" ring a bell? When was that nickname bestowed on Mr. Jackson?

While in Oakland as an Athletic? NOT!

While in Anaheim as an Angel? OH NAY-NAY!

While in Baltimore as an Oriole for one year? I CAN'T BELIEVE I WOULD EVEN ASK!

It was when he played in New York as a Yankee. We all know what he did against the Dodgers: Hitting five home runs in the 1977 World Series, including the three off of three different Dodger pitchers in Game 6 of that series.

Being a Yankee fan, I took the position that REG-GIE, REG-GIE made the right choice. My counterpart in this discussion took the view of the Oakland Athletics.

I had to look up the numbers and here is what I found, courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

REGULAR SEASON:

· 21 SEASONS: OAK (10 years), YANKS (five years), ANGELS (five years), BALT (one year)

· 563 CAREER HOMERUNS: OAK (269), NY (144), ANGELS (123), BALT (27) Note: If the number of years were doubled in both New York and California to match his time in Oakland, the home run totals would have been virtually identical. His one year in Baltimore was also very consistent with what he averaged over his entire playing career.

POSTSEASON:

· 32 TOTAL POSTSEASON GAMES IN 10 YEARS IN OAKLAND

· 11 TOTAL POSTSEASON GAMES IN FIVE YEARS IN ANAHEIM

· 34 TOTAL POSTSEASON GAMES IN FIVE YEARS IN NEW YORK

· 2-0 WORLD SERIES RECORD WITH OAKLAND

· TOTAL OF TWO HOME RUNS IN THE TWO WORLD SERIES

· 2-1 WORLD SERIES RECORD WITH NEW YORK

· TOTAL OF EIGHT HOME RUNS IN THE THREE WORLD SERIES

During his time, there was nobody who could bring electricity and excitement to a game like Reggie when he came to bat in a clutch situation.

Not too many could deliver when it mattered the most during the playoffs and especially the World Series like No. 44, Reggie Jackson, Mr. October.

A Few Wrongs May Have Been Righted

Phil Kohen — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:11:04 -0400

Certainly, you will find many articles today on Bleacher Report and thousands of other sports-related websites regarding David Ortiz admitting his failed drug test back in 2003. The Players Association reportedly told him directly of the failed test.

This means he can not tell us some lame excuse like "he didn't know what was in the o.j." or "the cream was for hemorroids, honest".

NO DUCKING THE ISSUE ORTIZ, YOU WERE CAUGHT RED-HANDED IN THE COOKIE JAR!

Add his name to the ever growing list that continues to be slowly revealed from the 103 names that were to be "anonymous" back in 2003. Let's just shoot the horse and take him out of our misery already!!! Just reveal ALL the names and let's move on with life.

So what wrong is righted here? In my previous article dated July 6th, I eluded to the fact that Ortiz's skills seemed to have eroded overnight. Especially since the departure of Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers last season. Coincidence? It would appear not.

I guess Ortiz finally realized that the news was going to catch up to him eventually this season and he tried all he could to mask his failed efforts to be productive this year.

"Ortiz you look tired. Would you like a nice mini-vacation?" Nice try Francona!

"Should we send him for an eye exam? Maybe he's blind?" Nice try Theo!

His 2009 stats thus far against the same numbers since 2000:

(Stats courtesy of FOXSPORTS.COM)

GAMES PLAYED: 93 (LOWEST SINCE 91 IN 2001)
AVG: .224 (LOWEST SINCE .234 IN 2001)
HR: 13 (LOWEST SINCE 10 IN 2000)
RBI'S: 55 (LOWEST SINCE 48 IN 2001)
SLG%: .409 (LOWEST SINCE .446 IN 2000)

Two of his most important numbers have hit rock bottom so far: HR's & SLG%. Not good for a power hitter who's reputation was one that you can NEVER let beat you. Boy did he beat my Yankees too many times anyway.

So what's next for Ortiz? I guess that all depends upon how the rest of the season goes. Perhaps his bat needs to do the talking for now.

Joba Chamberlain

In the same article I mentioned above, I held a very strong opinion that it was time for Joba to go back to the pen

What wrong is righted here? I want to tip my cap to Joba regarding his most recent outings. Please note that I am NOT reversing my position here but I need to give credit where credit is certainly due.

The Yankees are 11-2 since the All-Star break and have opened up a 3.5 game lead over the Red Sox going into tonight's action. They were five games behind before the break. Joba has been a key part within the starting pitching for this eight game swing by the Yankees.

In his last three starts he is 3-0, pitched 21.2 innings, given up only two earned runs, 19 K's, WHIP is well under 1.0, and he has lowered his ERA by a full half run since July 1st.

If he can continue with those type of numbers the rest of the way, perhaps the Yankees may not need to mortgage the future for Jarrod Washburn or Roy Halladay.

If they do before the trade deadline July 31st, I hope Joba is part of a package to be traded elsewhere so he can get a clean slate get out from under the New York spotlight and just focus on pitching.

End The Joba Experiment...NOW

Phil Kohen — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:04:26 -0400

Just what do you suppose Joba Chamberlain is looking for in the above picture?

His fastball?

His desire?

The path back to the bullpen as a set-up man?

I'll take, "WE'VE TRIED THIS LONG ENOUGH for $200, Alex!"

Paging Mr. Cashman! Your common sense can be picked up whenever you are ready at the Lost & Found on the Concourse level right next to the First Aid Station.

Why do the Yankees have a starter in the rotation that has to throw about 25 pitches in the bullpen BEFORE he takes the field for real on the days he pitches? Doesn't that tell you something? You know, that his body mechanics, namely his arm, are not adjusting to the role of a starter?

This is not something new with Joba. 2008 was no different.

In his 11 replacement starts during the months of June, July, and August, Joba averaged just under five-and-two-thirds innings pitched. He lasted seven innings only once and could not get out of the fifth inning three times.

His record for those 11 starts was 3-1 and seven no decisions.

This year his numbers look this: 17 starts and 89 innings pitched. That's an average of five-and-one-third innings per start. That's one third of an inning LESS than last year!

He has only gone seven innings or more three times so far this year. He has reached the sixth inning only six times. and on May 21, he failed to get out of the first inning against Baltimore. His record this year is 4-2 with 11 NO DECISIONS!

Even my 16-year-old daughter, who is a huge Yankees fan, can see this is not working.

UGH!!!!!

It has been no secret that over the last couple of years the bullpen has been a major concern for the Yankees. It does not help matters when one of your starters has to rely on the bullpen every fifth day to pitch half of the game. It has got to be tying the hands of Joe Girardi.

Take into account that Andy Pettitte has been as up and down this year as an elevator in the Palms Hotel here in Vegas or that Chien-Ming Wang is on the DL again and may be lost for the rest of the year.

C.C. then AJ then pray for rain?

The frustrating thing is that Phil Hughes is now facing the same type of issue. He did not pitch well in his early starts, so he was sent to the bullpen to make room for Chien-Ming Wang.

Girardi & Cashman do not want to change Hughes' pitching habits and will not put him back in the rotation and put Joba back where he belongs, IN THE BULLPEN!!!!!

PAGING MR. CASHMAN. IS THIS THING ON!?

Check out what a GREAT job the bullpen did this weekend in Anaheim against the Angels.

If the Yankees do not get Joba squared away and the bullpen continues to get worn out, we might be sitting right next to the boys from Flushing come October wondering how did we get here?

All I am asking for is to put Joba back in the pen where he belongs.

Until next time...

What is Wrong With This Picture

Phil Kohen — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:10:02 -0400

On a weekly basis, I co-host a weekly sports-talk radio show called the Sports Zoo here in Las Vegas, with former Major Leaguer Rich Perez & former Minnesota Viking Great Joey Browner. We spend an hour talking sports like guys would at the bowling alley when their wives or girlfriends are not around.

On Bleacher Report, I try to write opinionated articles about things that I need to get off my chest—sort of like therapy.

A few things come to mind after the rather strange month of June and start of July when it comes to the world of entertainment & sports.

MannyWood

Can anyone explain to me why Manny is receiving a "hero's welcome" back after his 50-game suspension? The drug he used is commonly used to help "rebuild" certain bodily functions after one-stops taking certain kinds of Performance Enhancing Drugs. It's also a drug primarily prescribed for women. Common sense even Stevie Wonder can see.

David "Big Papi" Ortiz

Not much to say here, but how come he is having his worst season in the big leagues at the same time that Manny is suspended? Didn't Manny play in Boston before going to LaLa-Land? Now, I know nothing has been said about Ortiz, who is currently hitting .224 with nine homers, but can someone stop hitting the way Ortiz has done over the years simply over-night?

A-Rod

We all know the story here.

How much did the medication help his hip before that injury came out of nowhere this season? By the way, have you noticed how many other "hip" injuries and "groin" injuries and "hamstring" injuries have come up this year?

A-rod was boo'd by the large crowd in Baltimore, even though he hit a home run in his first at bat of the season.

Side Note: Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte at least came out and acknowledged it, apologized and worked hard to get back in the good graces of the NY Yankee fans.

Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire and Rafael Palmiero should have learned this lesson!

Michael Jackson

I realize that MJ is not a sports figure. But he certainly is worth mentioning here contrary to other writer's opinions. He was as big a star as any sports athlete could have ever hoped to become. (There are only a handful of exceptions in the sports world.) Is it any surprise that his potential cause of death was a direct result of some of the items that were carried out in pink bags by detectives? Michael Jackson is to this generation what Elvis and Marilyn Monroe were to the respective generations. Now his legacy is tainted just a little bit.

Steve McNair

We all have different identities at times, our public lives and our private lives.

Steve McNair was one of the toughest quarterbacks to play the position. I can remember when he had the sternum injury and would spend the week in the hospital, but would be on the field come game time.

But there was another side of him that continues to come out and it's a side that nobody wants to recognize. It's this other side that has caused the death of someone.

For the others, its the death of their reputation that will continue to haunt them forever.

Is it worth it?

Ask Barry Bonds if he will ever see Cooperstown.

I just thought I would ask.

Penn State Wins NIT Championship

Phil Kohen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:04:12 -0400

Now that's something you don't read everyday: PENN STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPS?!

As the picture above indicates, the Nittany Lions were reaching for basketball supremacy at the NIT Tournament.

That's right, read it and weep. As an alumni of PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, Class of '86, I have done my share of rooting for Penn State by way of the gridiron.

But on the hardwood?

Sure, there will be those who say that the NIT is not as big a deal as "The Big Dance." But remember, at one time however, the NIT was the ONLY dance in town.

Anyways, you don't tell that to the 36 bus loads of students and Joe Paterno who made the trek to Madison Square Garden immediately following the win in South Bend, Indiana against Notre Dame.

I have spent many college basketball seasons rooting for my wife's almamater, The Syracuse Orangemen, during this time of year. As the great Jackie Gleason used to say, "How sweet it is."

Penn State was not invited to "the other dance" because other schools received invites that many argued did not deserve being invited in the first place. Arizona was the biggest name that came up in that discussion.

For the longest time I used to joke that "...my Nittany Lions couldn't hit the broadside of the ocean if they were standing on Gilligan's Island!"

Tonight, there are no better words for me to swallow than those.

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS ARE THE 2009 NIT TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS.

Here We Go Again: DUI and Althletes

Phil Kohen — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:05:37 -0400

Dustin Johnson, come on down, you are the next contestant on The Price of DUI!

In today's sports news, there are way too many reports of athletes, DUIs, formal charges and jail time, etc. that take away the enjoyment I get when I read the sports pages of The Las Vegas Review Journal to start my day.

Allow me to quickly recap starting with the latest athlete.

1. The man pictured above, Dustin Johnson, was arrested Monday and charged with driving under the influence in South Carolina.

It was not the first time the 24-year-old, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this past February, has been introduced to law enforcement officials.

He was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in South Carolina on Monday and released less than a half an hour later.

You can click on this link to get more details of his previous encounters with the law. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GLF_PGA_JOHNSON_ARREST

2. Joba Chamberlin, 23, pitcher for the New York Yankees.

He entered a plea earlier today of guilt to a Nebraska charge of drunk driving and was given probation.

He was pulled over Oct. 18, 2008 by police on the outskirts of Lincoln. Authorities say his blood-alcohol level was 0.134 percent. The legal limit in Nebraska is 0.08 percent.

Probation?!

Tell me how many of us would have got probation for a DUI?!

The second best thing he heard in that courtroom was when the judge told him that it takes only 10 seconds to lose what you have.

The judge hoped to never see Joba in her courtroom again.

3. Donte Stallworth, 28, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, was charged Wednesday with killing a pedestrian last month while driving drunk after a night out at a South Beach nightspot.

A charge of DUI manslaughter was filed in the Mar. 14 accident that killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes. If convicted, Stallworth could face up to 15 years in prison.

Stallworth's blood-alcohol level after the crash was .126, well above Florida's legal limit of .08, according to results of a blood test.

Stallworth will also be charged with DUI, which carries a possible six-month sentence plus fines and community service for first offenders.

There is at least one common denominator with these three situations.

The ages of the athletes are all under 30 years!

Not that athletes over 30 don't do stupid things (see Charles Barkley), but the level of severity seems quite high in the above cases.

The thing that gets me is the statement made by an athlete and it goes something like this: "I want to apologize to my fans, team, family for my lack of intelligence for such a stupid act and I will never do this again...blah blah blah blah blah blah..."

Why can't they learn from the previous offender who made the "same mistake" and not be foolish enough to get into their car while impaired!

Johnson and Chamberlain were very lucky that nobody else was involved on the night of their stupidity.

Stallworth was not that lucky. Nor were Mr. Reyes and his family.

NOTE: You are taking away the last bit of escape that many of us have by living vicariously. But when the real world starts creeping into my sports fantasy world, I start getting upset.

I am afraid I may one day wake up and say—that's it!

I may have to take up putting airplane models together for my escape.

Oh wait a minute, I remember why I stopped that too!

The glue...

Pro Bowl 2009: From Eyes of a First-Timer

Phil Kohen — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:47:51 -0400

Every once in awhile opportunities come your way that would be considered a 'ONCE IN A LIFETIME..." As someone who is a sportsfan having grown up in New Jersey, getting a chance to see pro athletes up close, falls into that category for me. I co-host a weekly sports-talk show, Friday nites from 7-8 PM, in Las Vegas called THE SPORTS ZOO on KLAV-1230AM alongside Rich Perez. Rich is a former major leaguer with the Houston Astros and SF Giants. Rich has been on the radio & internet for over 15 years and was the originator of the Best Damn Sports Show concept that is now on television. I met Rich last year when we were the broadcast team for Jr. Golden Gloves Boxing in Mesquite, Nevada. October, 2008 The Sports Zoo went on the air. With Rich's coaxing, and a little help from family, I was able to attend the NFL Pro Bowl game this past February in Honolulu. On our show it is not like we are void of stars. I mean Former Minnesota Vikings DB Joey Browner and Women's Boxing Champ Elena "Baby Doll" Reid are no slouches!!!! We did our weekly sports talk show LIVE from Niketown in Honolulu the Friday of Pro Bowl weekend. Saturday we were at Aloha Stadium, ON THE FIELD, while the two teams practiced. I was able to get some autographs and shake hands with some of the best in the NFL. Then there was Sunday, the day of the game. My credentials as a photographer allowed me to be on the field during the entire game. I was able to get real close to the players on the sidelines. I was in the end-zone when Tony Gonzales scored the AFC's first TD!!! (I immediately received a text message from my wife and dau8ghters that they spotted me on TV!!) I was also in the end-zone when Larry Fitzgerald caught the winning touchdown that allowed the NFC to win the game. I then waited on the field after the game and got more autographs and handshakes than I could have ever imagined. I have attached a slide show of what was my 'ONCE IN A LIFETIME....". Deep down I hope it is only the first of many that I can share with you. So sit back and enjoy the pictures as much as I did taking them while on the field of Aloha Stadium.

Begin Slideshow

New York Giants Suffer Last-Second Loss? No Problem—Out of Their System Now

Phil Kohen — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:58:51 -0500

The No. 1-ranked NFC team, The New York Giants, played about as well as any team can with nothing to "win" for. Everything for the playoffs was already sewn up, so the big question all week long was "how hard will Tom Coughlin allow the Giants to play?"

The only thing the Giants had left to win was not getting any key players injured. Sam Addison was the biggest casualty with a broken ankle.

Eli Manning and the first team played the first half and a very impressive David Carr and Co. played the second half. Carr's highlight was a beautiful 27-yard pass to Domenick Hixon for a touchdown.

One glaring hole that MUST be fixed going into the playoffs is that the Giant's secondary continues to allow receivers to get behind them for big plays. It happened twice, both times costing the Giants points, 10 total.

These points made division winners out of the Vikings, vacationers out of the Chicago Bears, and losers out of the Giants after Ryan Longwell's 50-yard field goal as time expired for a 20-19 Minnesota win.

But as a Giants fan, I am not disappointed in the loss! I would rather have them get this loss out of their system than lose any of the remaining games up to and including the Super Bowl. The team did not roll over and play opossum and allow the Vikings to "just" win to save themselves.

There should be NO second guessing of Coughlin. He could have put himself in a bad situation if anything happened that was detrimental to the team's playoff run. But he didn't.

Coughlin has come a long way since first taking over the Giants. Now with two weeks to prepare for the first playoff game, he has got to get the team healthy and ready for what what should be a fun run through the playoffs.

Brian Westbrook Beats Giants in Meadowlands

Phil Kohen — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:22:05 -0500

As a follow-up to my earlier post, the Eagles completed their big win against the Giants, 20-14.

It wasn't even that close as the Giants got a "no meaning" score in the last two minutes.

One of the big story lines of this game was that the Giants defense allowed too many third conversions. At one point the Giants allowed nine out of 13 third down conversions.

They also had only one possession in the third quarter with the wind.

Eli Manning did not have a stellar game but he was not helped much by his receivers. Domenick Hixon dropped an absolutely perfect pass from Manning early in the game that would not have given the Eagles defensive unit any momentum.

Was Hixon feeling the pressure now knowing that he was replacing Burress for the remainder of the season? Where was Amani Toomer? The most veteran receiver on the squad should have been more involved in the passing game to take some of the heat off of Hixon.

To add insult to injury, Brandon Jacobs hurt his knee.

So was it the Plaxico effect or looking towards next week's game against Dallas?

I am rooting for Pittsburgh to take some of the sting out of today's bad game against the Eagles.

New York Giants Shouldn't Look Past What Is Right There

Phil Kohen — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:18:51 -0500

Are the Giants looking past the Eagles today on their way to a conference championship and a first round playoff bye?

The Giants look VERY out of sync today. Two blocked Eagles field-goal attempts, one of which the Giants returned for a touchdown to closeout the first half, they would be in worse shape.

As of right now going into the fourth quarter, they are only down three but they only had one possession in Q3 and now they go into the wind in Q4.

The defense has allowed too many critical third down conversions.

Is it possible that all the Plaxico mess has caught up to them this week heading into a key game next week against Dallas.

Well the final 15 minutes will tell the tale.

Giants Avoid Shooting THEMSELVES in The Foot With Big Win in Washington

Phil Kohen — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:44:07 -0500

Emotions were high at the start of the game because of the honor to Sean Taylor of the Redskins. It's been one year since the defensive back was shot and killed during a home invasion, Taylor was placed into the Redskins' Ring of Honor during pre-game ceremonies.

Then the questions started. How would they respond once the game starts? Who the Skins? No...The Giants! Having to deal with the aftermath of WHATEVER transpired with Burress on Saturday, the Giants with yet another distraction from their highly paid star.

Is this how Plaxico Burress thanks the Giants? Funny thing is The Giants seems to play better when there are no distractions on the field. Burress should have realized this earlier in the season when he was suspended for one game, which was against the Seattle Seahawks, and we got to see Domenick Hixon emerge again since the Super Bowl.

Eli Manning distributes the ball better to ALL of his options. He threw to six different receivers against the Redskins, accumulating over 300 yards including a 40 yard touchdown to veteran Amani Toomer on the opening drive. This was critical in order to take the crowd out of the game early after the pre-game ceremonies.

Now don't get me wrong, I loved Jeremy Shockey but when he got hurt last year something positive happened, his name is Kevin Boss. Then there is Tiki Barber. I loved Barber's heart and soul when he played but the last year on the field he seemed to be more of a distraction than anything else. He retires and now we have the best three-headed running attack with Jacobs, Ward and Bradshaw.

Then there is the defense. Not that Michael Strahan was a distraction, but with him retiring and the injury to Osi Umenyiora, it would appear the guys up front haven't missed a step. The defensive unit led by Justin Tuck and Antonio Pierce haven't really missed too much. When Umenyiora returns next year the defense will even be better.

Could the current Giants squad be a team of "destiny"? First let's see what happens in February 2009 in Tampa. But I like the Giant foundation as long as the distractions are kept to a minimum.

Giants-Cardinals: New York Rolls Even Without Burress & Jacobs

Phil Kohen — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:45:24 -0500

Returning to the site of their Super Bowl win this past February, the Giants beat the upstart Arizona Cardinals 37-29 and improved their record to 10-1.

With a three game lead it would appear that the Giants have the inside track to having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Ironically, that presents a stark difference from last year when they got into the playoffs as a Wild Card and had to win on the road.

What a difference a week makes when it was believed that Brandon Jacobs was removed from the game against the Ravens after the first quarter to "save" him. This week we find out that he has an injured knee and didn't suit up. Hmmmm....

Then there is #17, Plaxico Burress. Apparently, he injured his hamstring and was only able to make it through one series.

The best thing for the Giants is how all of the other receivers stepped up again in his absence.

Just as he did against the Seattle Seahawks, Domenick Hixon made an impact in all phases of the game. With two huge kickoff returns, a punt return and big receptions, Hixon compiled over 260 all-purpose yards. Perhaps the wrong guy got the big million dollar contract going into this season.

With Jacobs' absence, Derrick Ward carried the load with 69 yards in 20 carries.

A true sign of a championship team is when they click on all facets of the game; offense, defense and special teams.

The question is, how far can the Giants go? What team in the NFC can knock the Giants off in the playoffs?

Time and five more games will tell.

Job Opening in the Bronx—If You've Got a 95 mph Fastball

Phil Kohen — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:09:38 -0500

My, how fast 18 years goes by. Mike "The Moose" Mussina is set to hang up his pinstripes and cleats. Let the great debate begin: HALL OF FAMER OR NOT?

He finally got a 20-win season under his belt and his seventh Gold Glove. He was a first-round pick of the Orioles in 1990 and will finish his career with a 270-153 record and 3.68 ERA. Mussina's 2,813 career strikeouts rank sixth among active pitchers and 19th all-time.

The debate begins now because of the "unofficial" acceptance to the Hall of Fame being 300 wins.

Here is a guy that did nothing for 18 years but go out and pitch when asked. There were very few times in his career when injury prevented him from taking the mound. He was never a distraction in the clubhouse, was a team leader, mentor to the pitchers and appears to be a good family man.

Then there is the fact that he had a good relationship with the sports media. Which, at times, holds the real key to election into the Hall of Fame. Just ask Jim Rice!

With the way pitchers are used today, we may never see too many more 300-win pitchers. Therefore, when looking at his entire career stats and championships, getting onto the ballot in five years will make voting quite interesting.

He should be in the New York Yankee Hall of Fame. Whether he makes it to Cooperstown or not is another story. Given the state of baseball today I would vote YES. But, then again, I don't have an official ballot to cast.

Giants-Ravens: New York Says "Nevermore"

Phil Kohen — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:53:27 -0500

Best run defense has more yards run against it in first quarter of Sunday's game and the guy who got them was not seen the rest of the way.

The NY Giants got off to a quick start against the Baltimore Ravens by scoring three touchdowns on it first three possessions. Brandon Jacobs, who's body is more like Dick Butkus and yet runs like Earl Campbell, had 70 yards in the first quarter alone!!! The Ravens average only 75 yards per game given up on the ground all season. JACOBS NEVERMORE.

He went to have his ankle re-taped during the second quarter and ran for only another three yards the rest of the way. Sideline reports seem to indicate that he did not have an injury of any kind. Of course, the ability of Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward provide a nice complement to Jacobs' running style (137 yards combined), but ride the horse that got you there.

Eli Manning had an okay day as he threw an interception and a touchdown for 153 yards. Combined with the running game, which today produced over 200 yards today will not always be that way, Eli must do better than a 50 percent completion rate.

And yet the G-MEN are 9-1 and considered by most the BEST in the NFC. All facets of their game have come up big at some point. We have seen everything from safeties to help win a game (Pittsburgh) to blocked field goals, etc. Sacks have gone down over the past two weeks. They have only one sack in two games.

I am a BIG Giants fan. I couldn't watch (I did hear it though) the overtime field goal against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game last year because of my love for the Giants.

But yet I still see areas that need improvement in order to host a Giants Superbowl Party in February.

Next week they pay a visit to the surprising Arizona Cardinals in the desert. Perhaps the warm weather will help Eli get hot again.