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Giants vs. Cowboys. Needs no introduction.

1. Stop Marion Barber III

This has to be the number one priority. Whoever the Cowboys will be trotting out to play QB should be overmatched by the Giants’ front four. Therefore, Barber is by far the most dangerous weapon. When they aren’t running it with Barber, the Cowboys figure to throw screen passes and dink and dunk it to Barber. Like Brandon Jacobs, “Marion the Barbarian” is not an easy man to take down. The defense needs to be watching his every move and take him out by the legs when he gets the ball. He’ll make arm tacklers look silly.

2. Start Kenny Phillips

Michael Johnson had a great game against the 49ers, but it’s time for the first round pick to see more playing time. Because the aforementioned Marion Barber III will be the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ offense, and because Terrell Owens is such a threat in the open field, the Giants need to go with the sure tackler from Miami. Johnson and James Butler have done a solid job thus far, but both have weaknesses in their game. Phillips is the most talented of the three and is ready for an increased role.

3. Hit Witten in the Ribs

Oh shush. Don’t act like I’m a bad guy for suggesting this. It’s not like you wouldn’t do it if you got the chance. For those of you who don’t know, Cowboys’ tight end and best receiver (year, I said it) Jason Witten suffered broken ribs against the Buccaneers last Sunday, but may attempt to play against the Giants. If he does, the Giants need to do Witten a favor and test his ailing ribs early and often, you know, to make sure he’s not too hurt to play. I don’t advocate purposely hurting another player, but if someone decides to play with an injury, the opposing team should not hesitate to exploit the weakness. Whether you like it or not,this type of thing goes on in football all the time, and Witten knows exactly what he’s getting into. (For the record, Jason Witten is my favorite member of the Dallas Cowboys).

4. Be-Ware

DeMarcus Ware, who attended the same High School and College as Osi Umenyiora, is one of the best defensive ends in the NFL. For some reason, he thinks is an outside linebacker, but anyone who watches Cowboys games knows better (of course, anyone who watches football watches Cowboys games since they are ALWAYS picked up by everyone’s local stations…but that’s another story). Ware is 2nd in the NFL with 9 sacks and is just coming off a streak in which he recorded a sack in 10 straight games, tied for an NFL record. In my opinion, Ware is the Cowboys’ best player on either side of the ball and is their one defensive player who must be game-planned for. The rest of their pass rush is solid, but nothing spectacular, so it shouldn’t be a problem to slide protection over towards Ware.

5. Practice Safe Trick or Treating

Here are some tips to having a happy, healthy Halloween:

• Don’t consume any unwrapped candy or poison apples given to you while trick or treating.
• Don’t be the one house that gives out nickels or floss or something lame like that.  That’s how houses end up getting egged.
• Don’t dress in all black unless you are staying in well-lit areas or are a Cowboys fan.
• Don’t throw eggs at your friends, unless they are being annoying.
• Don’t wear normal clothes and try to pass them off as a real costume.  That means no “I’m going as a college student! HAHAHA!” or “I’m going as an accountant for KPMG! HAHAHA!”  Have the decency to admit that you don’t have a costume.  People will respect you for it and you may even get extra candy out of it, although I don’t see why you would.
• If someone wearing a Cowboys jersey comes trick or treating to your house, treat them as you would any other person; a guest is a guest.
• Don’t use flammable material if you are making your own costume because I plan to set you on fire.
• Everyone hangs fake skeletons in front of their door.  Don’t be like everyone else; make a quick stop at the morgue for an authentic experience.
• Seriously though, if a Cowboys fan comes to your door, hurl an egg at their face.
• Don’t be The Joker; everyone’s going to be him.  Instead, be “That’s My Quarterback” era Terrell Owens, complete with sunglasses to block out the tears.  Or you can be “Getcha Pop Corn Ready” era Terrell Owens, complete with a bucket of popcorn (with extra butter to smear on Patrick Crayton’s fingers).

  

Happy Halloween!

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Second-round rookie Terrell Thomas will be the Giants’ nickel back on Sunday while Kevin Dockery (back) is sidelined. Aaron Ross will move to the slot on passing downs.

Giants DT Fred Robbins injured both of his hands in last week’s game against the Steelers. He is expected to play with extra protection on his hands.

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All charges were dropped in a case against Giants RB Danny Ware. He was charged with pedestrian under the influence and pedestrian in the roadway after visiting Athens, Ga., for the Georgia vs. Alabama game.

Don’t drink and walk, kids.

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ESPN has a couple of hot reads on what NFL players fear most. John Clayton has included a top ten list of most feared players. The Giants own, Justin Tuck, settles in at number 9. Kevin Seifert, a writer for ESPN, includes such things as, a stiff arm from Frank Gore, a block by Jon Runyan, or trying to tackle Adrian Peterson (the good one).

What is most stunning, is that nowhere in either article, does anyone mention the name Brandon Jacobs. There is no back in the league who consistently posterizes linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks more then the baby bulldozer. I realize AP is tough to tackle, Gore has a nice stiff arm, and Jon Runyan is a behemoth, but you can’t possibly tell me that seeing a 6′5, 265 pound back running at you with 4.5 speed, 20 times a game, isn’t more terrifying. The thought alone just made me pee myself.  Happy Halloween Cowboys.

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Do you look at this as an opportunity to put some separation between you and Dallas?

I think it is just an opportunity for us to get ahead of everybody else.  Our second division game, we can be 2-0, obviously the Redskins and the other teams in our division have played two or three games, so for us we actually need catch up with those guys.  We are excited about those guys coming in and are ready to play.

This is not the Dallas team that started the season?

Why not?  They are still the Dallas Cowboys.

Read more…

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Wednesday, after practice, Plaxico Burress came as close to a real apology as we have seen.

“Everybody can be better, you can make better choices,  just kind of think things over. I’m human. I’ve made some mistakes, I haven’t made the best of decisions. I’m the first one to look myself in the mirror and be honest with myself. “

It certainly seems a  bit late, but at least he is starting to say some of the right things. Perhaps the veterans on this team, like Amani and  Shaun O’Hara are getting in his ear. This is the first time he has actually spoken of making better decisions. Plaxico seems like a kid who just doesn’t want to admit he is wrong, even if he knows he is. This is a nice start, lets see if he keeps it going.

Quick side note: I have now read this comment about Plaxico 3 or 4 times: “He makes more money then god.” I realize this is just a phrase, but I have so many questions.

1. Who is paying God?
2. Don’t we think God would at least get a franchise tag.
3. If God were in the NFL, he has to be making more then 35 mill, right?
4. God would definitely be a Giant, but would he be better then LT? Is that even possible.

I have so many more questions, but that’s for another day.

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Amani Toomer is growing tired of Plaxico Burress‘ off the field issues, and in an AP report said he thinks if he continues he will be a distraction to the team.

“He’s his own man,” Toomer said. “He makes his own decisions and I have to respect that. He knows his decisions affect the team. It’s hard to go up to a grown man (and talk) about doing his business the way everybody else wants him to.”

When pressed about what might happen if Burress continues his errant ways, the Giants captain wondered.

“I’ll be interested to see because I think that it’s still a distraction,” Toomer said. “It affects our team.”

Most players have chosen not to take sides and just focus on what needs to be done on the field. Toomer appears to be the first to admit that Burress is becoming an issue.

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