This afternoon, the Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from the NASA Kennedy Space Center. On board were seven crew members two of which are native New Jerseyans. They took with them the jersey worn by Eli Manning in the Super Bowl. Amy Elis Nutt of the Star Ledger writes:
The astronauts intend to hold up the shirt to one of the shuttle’s windows and give it a good view of the Earth, then take a few photos before stowing it for the trip home. Once back on terra firma, they plan to return the much-traveled No. 10 to Manning at a Giants practice this summer.
ESPN’s LZ Granderson chats with Osi Umenyiora at his annual fund raiser “Strike for the Cure”. In this wide ranging and entertaining interview Osi talks whether the Giants can repeat, Eli Manning, Jeremy Shockey and the image of the black athlete in the NFL.
Heading into the 2008 season, there are a few intriguing stories that could play a big part of the NFL this year. Here is what I believe to be ten of the top stories to watch for in 2008.
10. Bills MLB Paul Posluszny returns from broken forearm
We are looking at a potential top-5 middle linebacker in the near future with Paul Posluszny. The Bills got a steal when they were able to grab him at the top of round two in 2007. In his first two games last year, Posluszny broke into double digit tackles in each of them, before injuring his forearm in the third game of the season against the New England Patriots, eventually putting him on the shelf for the rest of the year. You will be seeing this guys name near the top of the tackle list when the season ends.
Last week, the Atlanta Falcons new quarterback Matt Ryan, who the team selected No. 3 overall in this year’s draft, signed a six-year, $72 million contract with $34.75 million guaranteed. That equals out to an average of $12 million a year at maximum value.
NFL Players Association president Kevin Mawae isn’t a fan of big the outrageous rookie contracts. During an interview on “The Herd” on ESPN Radio, the six-time Pro Bowl center discussed the contracts that rookies receive.
“As a guy who has been in the league for 14 now going on 15 years and being around other veteran guys, for a young guy to get paid that kind of money and never steps foot on an NFL football field, it’s a little disheartening to think of. It makes it tough for a guy who’s proven himself to say ‘I want that kind of money’ when the owners, all they’re going to say is, ‘Well, you weren’t a first-round pick.’ And I know there is sentiment around the league amongst the players like, ‘Let’s do something to control these salaries and control these signing bonuses’ and things like that, and I know that’s something that the owners are talking about and I’m sure that’s going to play into this round of negotiations for this collective bargaining agreement.”
There is absolutely no reason for a guy coming into this league, having not played a down in the NFL yet, should be able to collect an enormous pay check like that.
Oh, and it’s been brought to my attention that three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady is making on average $10 million a year, after signing a six-year, $60 million contract in May of 2005. Yes, a three-time Super Bowl winner, who also holds the record for most touchdown passes thrown in one season with 50 in 2007 is making less money on average than a top five pick who has yet to step onto a field in a regular season game.
Take a look at the past top five quarterbacks of the recent drafts and their contracts:
Position coach, Dave Merritt had high praise for rookie safety and first round Giants draft pick Kenny Phillips in Newsday, but isn’t yet ready to declare him the starter.
“This kid, in the classroom, has shown unbelievable recall for the defense,” Merritt said. “We put in things back early in the (rookie) minicamp and he’s able to recall it here it is a week or two later. I’m very excited about that.
“As far as his God-given ability mentally, this kid is very good.”
Merritt said he still needs work on routes and his angles, but overall he looked great.
James Butler is the starting strong safety and Michael Johnson is the starter at free safety for now, said Merritt but that could change as they learn playing their positions at the NFL level.
In the New York Daily News, Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is hoping for $8 million from the Giants in what would be his final season. That would double his 2007 salary.
Giants officials have told Strahan in March that they will take care of him financially, but specifics were not discussed.
The $8 million number that comes from Strahan is a result of Jason Taylor, whose salary is also $8 million, but is also three years younger than Strahan. The stat numbers are not that far off, with both just under 60 tackles, though Taylor had two more sacks and three more forced fumbles.
During a charity even in Manhattan on Wednesday Night, Strahan stated that money is not an issue as he could retire and still head into the field of broadcasting.
I think the Giants are ready to move on without Strahan and are prepared to, if he does walk away. If he stays with the team, it remains just a bonus to the defense.
Vacchiano also notes that the Giants recently visited veteran defensive end Renaldo Wynn, who was a first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1997 under the coaching of current Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.
Wynn, 33, spent last season with the New Orleans Saints, playing in 12 games, recording 3.5 sacks. Over his 11-year career, Wynn has also played for the Redskins and Jaguars, tallying up 25 sacks throughout his career.
