NFC East: Can the G-Men Rebound From Plax Hangover and Make Another Super Run?

What a difference 12 months make.

This time last year, the New York Giants, fresh off their upset victory in Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots, looked as good as any defending champ in recent memory to make a repeat run at the title.

Then...well, you know.

The self-inflicted flesh wound heard around the league brought a franchise's fortunes crashing down, as the Giants' lack of an imposing downfield threat beyond Plaxico Burress left them scratching their collective heads come playoff time.

So what beckons in 2009?

Despite much media speculation, the much-anticipated Braylon Edwards trade failed to materialize. So the Giants will instead turn to two rookie receivers plucked out of this year's draft to fill the gaping void left by Hurricane Burress.

North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks and the towering 6'6" Ramses Barden out of Cal-Poly will be asked to contribute quickly.

“We felt like there were some very good young receivers in this draft, and we were not going to overextend ourselves with the veteran wide receivers on other teams,” Giants GM Jerry Reese said during a Sirius radio interview.

“We investigated these players in the draft and we felt like there would be somebody there at 29. We didn’t want to overextend or reach in a trade.”

For his part, Nicks is aware all eyes will be on him as a high draft pick to fill the talent void left by Burress. In a recent media interview, Nicks said he appreciated the role Burress played with the Giants.

"He was the rare athlete," Nicks said. "His height. His eyes. The speed. He was just a really interesting guy to watch, and that's the biggest reason I always watched Giants games.

"I loved watching Eli throw him the deep post down the middle and the speed routes were great to watch. He'll always make something happen, and that's sort of my approach."

It will be critical for Hick to step up quickly. The NFC East has largely gotten better around the Giants during the offseason, and looks poised to once again be the NFL's version of a steel-cage match, as the Cowboys, Redskins, and Eagles look to pummel each other for division supremacy.

The Eagles made positive strides in the offseason adding a potentially explosive playmaker in rookie wideout Jeremy Macklin out of Missouri for QB Donovan McNabb to hurl the ball at. The team also brought in two-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters at left tackle to protect McNabb's blindside, and added rookie RB LeSean McCoy out of Pittsburgh to keep Brian Westbrook's legs fresh deep into the season.

For the Cowboys, it may be addition by subtraction with the expulsion of Terrell Owens from the Cowboys locker-room. Granted, Giants corners Corey Webster and Aaron Ross won't miss guarding the tumultuous Owens downfield, but his absence can't help but bring a bit of needed stability to the squad.

Indeed, the award for most clumsily handled offseason has to go to Washington Redskins Commander-in-Chief Daniel Snyder. Snyder tried not once but twice to jettison incumbent QB Jason Campbell—first in favor of Jay Cutler, then rookie QB Mark Sanchez. Whether Campbell rallies or is continually looking over his shoulder will go a long way toward determining how coach Jim Zorn's squad performs in his sophomore year. 

So are the Eli Manning-led Giants a one-hit wonder? Or is a return engagement in the making? We'll soon find out.