How does a Baby Rhinoceros tip toe?
Last Sunday sideline reporter, and completely useless announcer, Tony Siragusa mentioned that he felt the Baby Rhino, Brandon Jacobs, was tip toeing into the hole. Normally I treat whatever “the goose” says with an eye roll and a call to my friend Q to express my frustration with idiot sideline reporter who adds nothing to the telecast…unless this exchange, taken from an old Giants game, is something you find useful.
Buck: How’s it going down there Goose?
Siragusa: It’s hot and I’m eating a dog.
Buck: How bout the players, how are they holding up?
Siragusa : Not sure, busy with my dog.
Unreal, they pay a fat man, who used to play the game, who knows nothing about the current players to eat hot dogs and sweat on the sideline. Still, his tip-toeing comment did make me eye roll more then usual and even sent me into a fbomb laced tirade that ended with this “if that fat F is still on the air next year I will rip off my skin and douse myself in alcohol….wait would that hurt?” The complete over-reaction got me thinking perhaps he was on to something. Based on the eye test alone Brandon just doesn’t look as though he is punishing players and hitting holes the way he did in 08. Yes he ran for 92 yards and a TD and that’s all good, but if he is not running as powerfully as he once did it begs the question, is he hurt? I let all this go until today when i read this exchange in a Ralph Vacchiano chat:
“I actually do agree with Siragusa and Johnston, to a point. I’m not sure Jacobs is “tiptoeing” to the line of scrimmage, and I think they’re underselling his impact on the offense a little bit. But I do think something’s wrong. He doesn’t look as powerful as he used to be. In fact, just a few minutes ago I asked Tom Coughlin what he thought Jacobs’ problem was. His answer: “Nothing that I want to talk about in here (in the press conference).” My translation of that is that there is SOMETHING going on with Jacobs, though we just don’t know what yet. Whatever it is, he’s not barrelling over opponents the way he used to. He doesn’t seem as aggressive as he once was. And if he’s lost that power and aggression he’s lost the two things that make him the most effective.”
The exchange Coughlin had with Vacchiano is extremely worrying. I’m not saying Brandon is definitely hurt, but know this, the Giants are as secretive, if not more, then most teams in the NFL when it comes to injuries. Kenny Phillips had a “knee problem” until he was shutdown for the year. Aaron Ross had a “minor hamstring” before missing most of training camp and the first three weeks of the regular season. Its a bit conspiracy theory esque but I do wonder if the Baby Rhino is tip toeing for a reason, cause we all know Baby Rhino’s don’t tip toe, they bowl you over till you’re buried in the meadowlands turf, just ask Leron Landry, he’s still there.
