According to FOX Sports, Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress has been fined 40-50 times as a member of the New York Giants before his recent suspension. Burress was suspended by the team for missing team meetings, ignoring phone calls, and other problems that were piling up. An anonymous source explained the situation:

“He doesn’t care about the fines but if you don’t let him play … that’s all he cares about. He just wants to play football. He pretty much put Jerry Reese and Coach in a bad spot on this one. It had to stop and just fining him again wasn’t going to do it.”

Obviously after fining Burress at least 40 times, it doesn’t seem to scare him. Unfortunately, it seems like suspending him is the only way to make him learn from his mistakes.

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With the Giants off this Sunday, I decided to treat myself to a nice leisurely day of rest. At Shea Stadium watching the Mets crumble (don’t call it a collapse) for the second year in a row.

As ironic fireworks went off to bid the decrepit stadium farewell, and orange and blue confetti fell from the heavens, the type that should be reserved for the clinching of a championship, not a 4-2 loss to a team that is used to playing in front of 17.5 fans each game (there are many half people in Florida), I began to think how different this baseball season would have been if only the Mets played football instead.

I’d be a writer for MetsFootballBlog, writing things like:

Is there any better QB to WR combination in the NFL than Johan Santana to Jose Reyes? And how about that leaping catch Endy Chavez made in the back of the end zone? Too bad Scott Shoenweweis‘ potential game winning field goal caromed off the upright and out of the stadium for a homerun.

Game Notes: TE Moises Alou will miss the rest of the season after breaking all ten of his fingers trying to make a one handed catch. FB Luis Castillo has been re-signed to a twelve year deal, despite the fact that off season surgery revealed that his knees were made of Cadbury creme eggs.

Anyway, as baseball season has come to a close, football is now the only show in town. But since the Giants were off this week, I’ll simply do a recap of the Giants game I played in Madden ‘07, the most recent edition I have of the game.

Giants 70, AFC Hall of Fame 7

The Giants won a wild one Sunday, beating the AFC Hall of Fame team by a score of 70-7. Rich unlocked the AFC Hall of Fame team by earning Madden Tokens and purchasing the AFC Hall of Fame Madden Card.

Tiki Barber had a career day, rushing for 341 yards and 4 touchdowns on 20 carries. When asked about his slightly pixilated appearance, Barber suggested that it’s probably time for Rich to upgrade to an HD TV or maybe get an Xbox 360 for Christmas. Little did he know that Rich is Jewish.

Eli Manning passed for 734 yards and added six touchdown passes to Tim Carter, all on Hail Mary plays. Manning decided not to throw to his other receivers because the B and X button are broken on Rich’s controller.

Lavar Arrington had his coming out party with 2 interceptions and 3 sacks and Will Demps lead the team with 12 tackles. The lone points for the AFC Hall of Fame team came when Chad Morton fumbled a punt in the third quarter, which is stupid because I can’t control when my players fumble but whatever. The fumble was recovered by Hall of Fame Player #41 and returned for a touchdown.

The game was delayed late in the 4th quarter when Rich had to go to the bathroom and then got distracted by something and forgot he was playing.

Arrington said after the game that he is finally starting to feel comfortable in the Giants defensive system. “Back in Washington, we didn’t use the hit stick as often. We were taught to try and strip the ball or just dive at the players, but I’m finally starting to get the hang of the hit stick. I think it’s going to be smooth sailing from here on out, and I don’t see myself having a career ending injury any time soon.”

The Giants will take on the ‘86 Giants next week.

Bonehead of the Week: GiantsFootballBlog Writer David Jacks

The hot rumor around the GiantsFootballBlog office is that something in one of my recent articles is reminiscent of another article on this site.

“Did Rick Resh, another great writer on Giantsfootballblog.com, just write the same article as myself, only two days later? I may be delirious from all the cold medicine, but it looks eerily similar, and now I think I may have started a war between writers.”

Well, to Mr. Jacks, I can assure you that I did not steal anything from your articles, as I have not yet learned to read English. My first language Russian. I don’t can read American writings good. I sorry to you for fish puddings. Yes?

For not knowing about the inspiring journey I took, escaping soviet Russia for America so many years ago, you are this week’s Bonehead of the…week.

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Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post expects that the Redskins will start talking contract extension with starting quarterback Jason Campbell within the next four to six weeks.

Campbell’s rookie deal expires after next season. The 26-year old quarterback has completed 65% of his passes, thrown for 878 yards and has six touchdowns and no interceptions. He has led the Redskins to a 3-1 record.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid stated that he was optimistic about having tight end L.J. Smith back for the game against the Redskins next week, however, he also stated that runningback Brian Westbrook has been feeling better, but would not have been able to practice on Monday has there been practice. Westbrook remains day-to-day with an ankle strain that prevented him from playing in last night’s game against the Bears.

With a quarter of the season over, the Eagles sit at 2-2 and at the bottom of the NFC East. You have to begin to wonder if Reid’s time as Eagles head coach is coming to an end. Jeffery Lurie could consider a change at the end of the season if things don’t turn around.

Despite not playing this past week against the Browns, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who is scheduled to face the Cowboys next Sunday, is expected to be limited in practice, but insists that he will be ready for the game.

Carson Palmer on his current status…

“I’ve already made up my mind I’m playing. I’m going to do what I can in practice and do what they let me do, but I’m 100 percent expecting to play going into this game, and planning on playing. I’ll probably be limited in practice, but I’ll do what I can.”

There has been speculation and rumors out of Cincinnati that Palmer may need Tommy John surgery.

The Cowboys could be in for an easy day against the 0-4 Bengals if they don’t have to even deal with Palmer. As of right now, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Palmer’s status for Week 5 against Dallas is “very iffy.”

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Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports that Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes has stated that he is healthy and ready to reclaim his starting job. Kicker John Carney will remain on the roster until Tynes proves he can make it through a full game.

Head coach Tom Coughlin on the kicking situation…

“We’re just going to make sure everything is the way it should be before anything changes with the way we’ve been working. I would say it’s probably week to week.”

Carney has been a perfect 9 for 9 in field goals and 8 for 8 in point after touchdowns.

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Joe Johnson of the Athens Banner-Herald reports former Georgia Bulldog and current Giants runningback Danny Ware was arrested early Sunday on an alcohol charge.

Ware was seen with a 24-year old woman from Dallas at about 2:25 a.m. ET standing in the street talking. Ware admitted that he had been drinking and took a breath test that showed he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.152 grams. Each of them were charged with pedestrian under the influence and pedestrian in a roadway.

Ware was released the next morning from the Clarke County jail after he posted a $500 cash bond.

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Many folks doubted the Giants were as good as the Cowboys coming into this season on paper, Peter King of SI among them. However King now sees the light and declares the Giants top dogs in the NFL.

In training camp, Justin Tuck told me the defensive linemen were sitting around at the team’s Super Bowl party in Phoenix three hours after the game last February, all talking about winning another one instead of how they were going to celebrate this one. The Giants are deep at running back and wide receiver (even with the Plaxico Burress fireworks), have a workmanlike and versatile offensive line, are surviving the killer losses of Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, and are maturing in the secondary. Will they win again? If they don’t get a big injury on defense, and if Eli Manning continues his steady climb as a passer and leader, the answer is yes.”

I love hearing that story by Tuck. It just goes to show you that this team was hungry for another ring as early as three hours after they won their last one. It is so difficult to repeat, but I think if the Giants can prove their mettle against some tougher opponents, which they’ll soon be facing, they may have a decent shot at defending their title.

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Before I get to the picks, let me say this, I may be having one of the worst week of my life. Quick recap: Click on “read more” if you are soleless, and are using me for my keen intellect, but if you have a care, read on.

Sunday - I get all “Mike Martz” in my post and decide it’s time to play genius and on three seperate 3rd and one’s I call these plays, reverse, double reverse, double reverse flee flicker fumblerooski with an option to buy, out of the wing T (what, it could work - losing my mind and yelling - YOU DONT UNDERSTAND THE WING T sobbing no, YOU don’t understand). Those plays represent my Arizona, Houston and Chicago picks. The second I made those picks, I knew what I was doing. I was saying “look at me and how smart I am. I sleep with Heidi Klum and Carmen Electra on top of each other.” Safe to say, 12-3 went straight to my head. I sleep alone. I am stupid. I am Mike Martz’s Madula Ablongada (by the way is it possible that he is turning the niners offense around? I submit no, not yet)

Read more…

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As we head into the bye week for the New York football Giants, here is the fantasy football outlook for week 4.

Game Breakers

QB

Aaron Rodgers - He had an off week last week against the Cowboys, but he should saddle up for another big day against Tampa Bay.  Rodgers has been playing mistake free football the entire season with no INTs thus far and should be able to take advantage of a Tampa secondary that has been exploited in previous weeks.  

RB

Reggie Bush - I’ve had him in the game breaker column before and I’ll do it again.  With Colston and Shockey injured, more of the passing game will be centered around Bush who already has 250 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs this year.  In addition to that the running game has been more Bush-centric with Bush being handed 18 carries last week. 

Selvin  Young - The Denver running situation has to be frustrating to any fantasy owner, but the Chiefs have been unable to stop the run this year.  For now, Young looks like he is at the top of that totem pole and could be preparing for a huge day against KC. 

WR

Eddie Royal - Despite the fact that he’ll be facing a Chiefs Pass D that has been solid so far, CB Patrick Surtain will not be playing so Royal might be lining up against rookie CBs most of the game.  Royal’s speed and breakaway ability that we saw in week 1 make him especially prime for an enormous week.

Potential Disappointments

QB

Ben Roethlisberger - He was pounded last week by Philly, getting sacked 8 times to bring his season total up to 12.  Now he is facing a tenacious Ravens D that has allowed 91.5 passing yards per game this season.  

RB

Edgerrin James - He has been far from spectacular and has probably disappointed some fantasy owners because he has failed to score a TD so far.  Nothing about that should change against the Jets this week who have been solid against the run despite a banged up NT Kris Jenkins.

WR

Torry Holt - Even though Marc Bulger has been replaced with Trent Green, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Holt will get to see the ball more.  The Bills have a really solid pass D and it’s really tough to say that Bulger was even the problem in St. Louis.  It’s been a tough year if you spent an early round pick on Holt and things aren’t looking much brighter this week.   

Waiver Wire Pickup - If you need a spot WR start this week, Antonio Bryant could be a really nice pickup.  He’s facing a banged up Packers secondary and Brian Griese should be able to get him the ball.

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Every week this season, I have given in depth keys to assist the Giants in defeating their opponent. From the toughest of the tough, to the St. Louis Rams, I have been there to help point the team in the right direction. But this week, the Giants face an opponent fiercer than any other: the Bye Week.

The Giants have played the Bye Week every year since 1990, and still have yet to come away with a victory. It is no overstatement to say that the odds are stacked against them. But with these 5 keys, not only can the Giants beat the Bye Week, but maybe you can too.

1. Read a Book

In the primitive days, before there was television, mankind used to write down shows using words. Although there are no cool chase scenes, explosions, or nudity, books can be used as a cheap substitute for TV during re-run season. Books can still be found at your local Amish town store.

2. Watch Hockey

You don’t have to be Canadian to watch hockey anymore (although it is strongly recommended)! The NHL pre-season is just starting up, and the three local teams could all be in store for great seasons (statistically speaking, teams have a better chance of making the playoffs than not). If you like hockey, you know how exciting and action packed it can be. If you don’t like hockey, you can always tape a piece of green cellophane to the screen and drink until you think its football.

2a. Drink Until You Think Everything is Football

This one is self explanatory

3. Invent Your Own Sport

I like to play a game called “Tackle Chess Ball.” It’s half chess, half tackle football! More accurately, it’s just football played on a chess board. Games don’t last very long.

4. Get to Know Your Chinese Uprisings!

We all know that the White Lotus Rebellion was an anti-Manchu uprising that occurred during the Qing Dynasty. But did you know that it wasn’t until the Jiaqing Emperor overthrew the Heshen Clique that the uprising was truly stifled? See? Learning can be fun! This sort of educational information can be found on Wikipedia or even in a book* (*see above).

5. Have a Baby

With all the time you’ll spend caring for the little bugger, football will be the last thing on your mind. And after a week, you can return the kid for store credit, just in time for the Seahawks game!

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