New Year’s resolutions, anyone?

Over the years, I’ve found that exercise to be a fruitless one.

But there are a few things I’d like to see in the next six weeks…….

Even though I’ve been a Giant fan for over four decades, I’d like to see the Jets finally do something besides disappoint 75% of my family and friends.  I know they won’t get to the Super Bowl this year, but I’d like to see them get into the playoffs and make some noise. New York is very quiet these days……

The Jets are like drunk party guests.  They make a lot of noise, break things and in the end – ruin the party for everyone else.  Maybe this year they can SAVE the party.

People will have my tongue for this, but I would like to see the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl.  I know, perish the thought, but here are my reasons:

The Giants are out of the playoffs, so it won’t be at our expense. Second, if they win it this year, the odds are they won’t repeat. The odds are 80% against a team repeating as champions.

The fans.  It is well known that Eagle fans are the most obnoxious, vile, repulsive fans in the NFL.  Perhaps a taste of success will calm them down, sort of like when Igor plays the violin for the Frankenstein monster.

If the Eagles do not win it, I would like to see another first time team win: The San Diego Chargers.

I know, you hate the Chargers, and rightfully so.  The GM, Alex Smith, is a bit pompous. The quarterback, Philip Rivers is a loudmouth and Shawn Merriman looks like a fool with that sack dance of his.

But truth be told, the fans in San Diego have supported the Chargers since 1961 (the year I was born, and neither of us have much to show for our efforts) and they could use a Vince Lombardi Trophy for their lobby.

An Eagles-Chargers Super Bowl is not quite as gut-emptying as a Phillies-Yankees World Series (maybe because its only one night), but what the heck, like I said, chances are neither will be back so let’s pop that pustule all at once.

Giants News and Notes

Osi Umenyiora has had a sub-par season (7 sacks), but he’s still confident in his abilities.  Osi is not happy with his reduced role in the defense and continues to make that public every chance he gets.

“I think definitely some things are going to be changed,” Umenyiora said. “I’m too good of a player for this kind of situation.” He went on to dispel the notion that he never fully recovered from the knee surgery that kept him out of all of the 2008 season. “I’m not sure what tape everybody else has been watching,” he said. “I’m just as explosive. I’m still the same player that I was.”

The Giants could easily go to Minnesota this Sunday and lay down their weapons. If you know anything about Tom Coughlin, you know that is not in his DNA. “What we’re playing for is just as important to us,” said Coughlin. “We need to re-establish who we are and to re-establish our own identity and re-establish some pride in the way that we perform and the way we play.”

Eli Manning is also planning on giving it his all on Sunday. “It is our job to play every game, it doesn’t matter what the circumstances are…… “Going 9-7 and having a winning season is something you can look back and say ‘Hey, we aren’t far off from being a good team.’ Having a winning season is something that you can build on and something we can be somewhat proud of.”

Chris Snee and Davis Diehl are Pro Bowl alternates (along with Steve Smith) and they are looking forward to meeting the vaunted defensive line of the Vikings. “I get excited about this opportunity – going against the caliber of player that they have,” said Snee.

Shaun O’Hara is bittersweet about his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection…..“To be going back again, I am just very blessed and I can’t help but think that this reflects more on my unit and the guys around me than me,” O’Hara said. “I’m excited about it. It’s a little excitement in an otherwise sad 48 hours.”

Former USC star Terrell Thomas, one of the few Giant defenders who performed admirably this season, gave his assessment of the Giant defense….“For whatever reason, guys are just not finishing plays….It’s definitely frustrating because I think we have the talent here to get the job done. But we just don’t seem to have any answers about why it’s not getting done”

Brandon Jacobs has a swollen knee and may miss Sunday’s game in Minnesota. That would ruin his perfect attendance record for 2009.  Since becoming a starter in 2007, Jacobs has not played a full 16 game season as of yet for the Giants.

Gary Myers, in today’s Daily News, drew up a five point plan to reset the Giants for 2010.  It calls for Tom Coughlin to re-connect with the players;  DC Bill Sheridan to be replaced with Dick Jauron; signing multiple defensive free-agents i.e. Shawn Merriman, Darren Sharper and DeMeco Ryans; fixing Brandon Jacobs and finding a team leader among the players.  Is that all, Gary?

These are great suggestions with the exception of the team leader one.  It’s obvious that they need one (or more) but those cannot be chosen, they have to emerge on their own.  I think Eli Manning will come out of his shell and assume one role.  But it’s the defense that needs the leadership.  Too bad they didn’t sign Brian Dawkins last year…….

This week’s opponent – the Minnesota Vikings – are sending eight players to the Pro Bowl.  Wow.  They always send a legion of players to the Pro Bowl, though.  It’s the Super Bowl they have issues getting to.

Vikings’ DE Jared Allen, one of those Pro-Bowlers, is tied for 2nd in the NFL with 13.5 sacks.  In looking at Allen’s overall performance, he’s had an uneven season.  Of his 13.5 sacks, 7 1/2 came against the Packers. In the first game vs Green Bay, Allen had 4.5 and then had another 3 in the rematch.   Allen has gone sack-less eight times this season and has only 3 sacks in his last seven games.

Today’s number….104.3….no, its not a radio station, its Brett Favre’s 2009 QB rating.  It’s also the first time in his Hall-of-Fame career that he has eclipsed the 100 mark.  Favre’s highest QB rating to date: 99.5 in 1995.

Favre has a career record of 180-104 as a starter and has played in 306 consecutive games (including playoffs).  He is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing attempts, completions, touchdowns and passing yardage.

Steve Smith Left Off Roster

Center Shaun O’Hara was the only New York Giants player to be selected to the  NFC’s 2010 Pro Bowl roster today.

Wide receiver Steve Smith was thought to be a lock to get voted in, but was bypassed.  Instead, Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona), DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia), Miles Austin (Dallas) and Sidney Rice (Minnesota) will represent the NFC at wide receiver.

O’Hara, who was named as a backup to Andre Gurode of Dallas will be making his well-earned second Pro Bowl appearance.

Too bad for Smith, who definitely deserves to go to the Pro Bowl.  I guess the Giants just left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth this year…..

The Giants are averaging 378 yards-per-game on offense, which is the 6th highest in the NFL, higher than the Colts, Steelers, Vikings, Chargers, Eagles and Cardinals.

O’Hara didn’t do that by himself……

Tier 1 (The Elite)

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1. New Orleans Saints (13-2) They have clinched home field advantage and a first round bye, which also gives them the #1 spot in power rankings.  But They have now lost two in a row, and if I were Sean Payton, I would let my players play in week 17 in the hopes that they can get back into a groove before they sit at home for a week. (Last Week: 1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) The Eagles can clinch a first round bye this week, which would give them another week off to get fully healthy.  Expect them to play hard against the Cowboys with the division crown on the line.  But they might not want to fully tip their hand, as a first round matchup between these two teams is also possible. (2)

3. Green Bay Packers (10-5) Their last second loss to the Steelers seems to have had no ill effect on the Packers.  They absolutely thrashed the hapless Seahawks, and they will enter the playoffs on a roll.  I take back some of the negative things I’ve said about this team.  As long as Aaron Rodgers is at the helm, they’ll always have a chance to score points. (6)

4. Arizona Cardinals (10-5) The Cards still have an outside shot at the #2 seed, and they need to beat Green Bay for it to happen.  But like the Eagles, the Cardinals could be facing the Packers in the first round.  It should be interesting to see how they go about their week 17 game, with the division already locked up. (4)

5. Minnesota Vikings (11-4) How can someone as talented as Adrian Peterson be so awful at holding on to the football.  It’s possible that his game-losing fumble will make him a better player in the long run, but until he proves he can hold on to the football, there is one giant flaw in his otherwise almost-perfect game.  As for the entire team, they looked much better this week, but their defense couldn’t stop an okay Bears offense.  (3)

6. Dallas Cowboys (10-5) The Cowboys took care of business and have now locked up the sixth NFC playoff spot.  With a win over the Eagles this week, they clinch the NFC East.  Tony Romo and company are doing a good job dispelling the Cowboys December myth. (5)

Tier 3 (In The Hunt)

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7. Carolina Panthers (7-8) The way they’ve been playing lately, it’s easy to see why this team was a Super Bowl favorite last year.  Jonathan Stewart proved he could be one of the top backs in the league, with a 200 yard performance against the Giants.  Matt Moore has announced his intentions to stick around as the starting QB. (9)

8. New York Giants (8-7) The Giants picked the worst time to play their worst game of the year.  This may have been their worst performance since they got shut out at home by the Panthers in the 2005 playoffs.  It’s anyone’s guess as to how they will play in a meaningless week 17 game, but once the season ends, a lot of questions will be answered, and a lot of jobs will be lost. (7)

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-7) The Falcons missed the playoffs, largely due to injuries to their two best players.  But with a win this week against the Bucs, they will have back to back winning seasons for the first time in ages, and that’s something to build on heading into next year. (8)

10. San Francisco49ers (7-8) If not for one fluke Brett Favre touchdown pass, things could have gone so much different for the Niners.  But with a win over the Rams, the Niners will finish at .500, which is better than most predicted for them coming into the season.  The future could be bright. (10)

11. Chicago Bears (6-9) I don’t get it.  Jay Cutler had one of his best performances of the year against a good Vikings defense.  Maybe now that the pressure is off, he is free to play the way we all know he can.  Bears fans hope to see much more of this in his second year. (12)

12. Washington Redskins (4-11) They weren’t embarrassed this week, but they lost at home to the Cowboys, taking away their last chance to make their fans happy. (11)

13. Seattle Seahawks (5-10) Another horrific loss.  With two touchdowns and eight interceptions in the last two weeks, Matt Hasselbeck is making himself expendable. (13)

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-12) Another impressive win has elevated the Bucs into the “playing for pride,” and the players should have a lot to be proud of.  Let’s give Raheem Morris another year before we bury him as a head coach. (14)

Tier 6 (In The Hunt…For The #1 Pick!)

15. Detroit Lions (2-13) I remember the days when two wins was enough to get you the #1 pick… (15)

16. St. Louis Rams (1-14) Just one more loss and the #1 pick is theirs!  Sooo close! (16)

Several Bright Spots To Build On

2009 will be a forgettable season for the Giants and their fans.  Sure, they can finish out with a bang by beating Minnesota this week but overall, the season was a gigantic disappointment.

The defense was atrocious, for a myriad of reasons. There were injuries and disconnects to go along with a nonsensical scheme by first-year defensive coordinator, Bill Sheridan.

The special teams were average at best, but with too many lapses.  The offensive line, once a cohesive block of granite, began to show some cracks.

And, finally the vaunted running game was virtually grounded to a halt.  The causes were many – mainly the overrating of one Brandon Jacobs.

But as the season winds down with all of these letdowns on our minds, there are several positives to take into next season. (Do I sound like Allie Sherman, yet?)

No one understood why the Giants paid Eli Manning a king’s ransom at the beginning of the season.  Now, there doesn’t seem to be much chatter about that.  Manning responded with his best season to date and displayed the leadership qualities the club so desperately needed him to start showing.

The young receivers, who were under pressure to produce in the wake of the Plaxico Burress fiasco, shone like beacons the entire season.  Steve Smith set a club record for receptions. Mario Manningham and rookie Hakeem Nicks combined for over 100 receptions and 1500 yards in their first full seasons.

The Giants also found out how valuable second-year safety Kenny Phillips was to the team.  The secondary fell apart after he was lost for the season. Now, that’s not necessarily a positive, but it shows that they were right about Phillips.

Going into 2010, the Giants know exactly where they need to improve. I would like to hear what our readers think the Giants should do this spring….

Crawling From The Wreckage: Day Two

Tom Coughlin put a quick end to any questions regarding Osi Umenyiora’s Giant status….“He is very much in our plans….” There you have it.

Michael Boley on Harry Carson’s harsh criticism of the teams’ lifeless play: “It doesn’t mean anything to me,” Boley said. “These guys in this locker room—we play the game. Any kind of words coming from the outside just falls on deaf ears.”

Really? Until your bust is sitting in Canton, Michael I would advise you to take stock of what this Giant fan favorite and legend has to say.

Meanwhile, Coughlin and Eli Manning both apologized to the fans for the team’s sub-par performance.  They get it.

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The Giants have surrendered 40 or more points in a game four times this season. That’s the most in a single season since 1966, when they went 1-12-1 with Gary Wood at quarterback.

Eli Manning needs 120 passing yards to reach 4,000 for the season, a feat only Kerry Collins (4,073 in 2002) and Phil Simms (4,044 in 1984) have achieved as Giants.

Vikings Lose Again – Face Giants This Week

If think you have something to be worried about as Giant fans, how do you think Minnesota Vikings fans are feeling these days?

After running out to a 10-1 record, the Vikes have gone 1-3 in December.  Plus the Brett Favre-Brad Childress relationship has been strained.

Last night’s loss in Chicago now means this week’s game vs New York has playoff significance. Instead of enjoying a first-round bye as the #2 seed in the NFC, the Vikings must play for that right – and get some help.

They will have no alternative other than to give the Giants their A-game this Sunday.  Minnesota would then need to wait to see how the Eagles fare in Dallas later in the day. If the Eagles beat the Cowboys, they are the #2 seed and Minnesota, regardless of the outcome of their game vs the Giants will be in the Wild Card round.

If Dallas beats Philadelphia, the Cowboys can get the bye if the Vikings and Cardinals lose their games.

Arizona can still be the #2 as well. If the Cards can beat Green Bay and both the Eagles and Vikings lose, they get the bye.

Philadelphia Eagles: After suffering two concussions this season, RB Brian Westbrook took the field yesterday for the first time in six weeks.

“We were looking somewhere around 20 [plays] and then we would just see how he feels,” Andy Reid said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. He told me he felt good, and he doesn’t lie to me. We gauge it off that. I’m just glad to have him back out there. He’s a talented guy.”

Westbrook ended up leading the team with rushing, going nine times for 32 yards while also adding two catches for 5 yards. it wasn’t expected that Westbrook was going to just come onto the field and look like the guy from 2 and 3 years ago, so the output he gave was more than satisfying.

Westbrook also wore a helmet with added cushioning to aid him from encountering yet another concussion.

Washington Redskins: Add even more insult to an utterly insulting season for the Washington Redskins. One thing they didn’t have on this all but successful season so far was being shut-out…but they made sure to get that credential straightened out while everyone was watching last night on national television.

After playing some very competitive football over the previous five weeks of the season to good football teams (including division rivals Dallas and Philadelphia), the Redskins have come out o national television two weeks in a row and proved how utterly dysfunctional they are.

The downturn of their play did coincidentally come at the same time of the Vinny Cerrato firing and Bruce Allen hiring…just thought I’d throw that out there.

ring ring…Bill Cowher please….ring ring. Yes, how much money do you want? Ok sure thing, we’ll have the paperwork drawn up.

Dallas Cowboys: There have been a few different elements of the month of December for the Dallas Cowboys this season. For starters, they’ve clinched the playoffs and Tony Romo is playing well. One thing that hasn’t changed however is the play of all-pro tight end Jason Witten.

Heading into the last game of the season, Witten has 88 catches for 954 yards, which is second only to the non-blocking Dallas Clark. Witten on the other hand, is known for his blocking prowess as much as his hands.

If you had the choice between Witten, Gates, and Clark, who would you take?

Whenever a team wins its sports respective championship, the players and coaching staff are given a grace period in which they are forgiven for most sins.  It is safe to say that for the New York Giants, the grace period is over.

After a 5-0 start, the Giants find themselves 8-7 with a meaningless week 17 game against the Vikings.  After that, it’s golf season.

What went wrong for the Giants on Sunday?  Let’s look at my “Five Keys to Victory” for the answer to that:

1. Stop Steve Smith

Despite not playing most of the second half, Steve Smith of the Panthers caught five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.  His touchdown came on a play in which he brushed off what looked like a crushing hit from Michael Johnson and walked into the end zone for an easy score.  It was later revealed that he broke his arm on this play.  A broken arm, not the Giants defense, was the only thing that could stop Steve Smith.

But this one is on Bill Sheridan.  Why is Kevin Dockery, a pretty good 4th CB, covering Steve Smith.  This is just another example as to how clueless Sheridan has been this season.  Instead of putting Terrell Thomas, the team’s best remaining defensive back, he puts a guy who wouldn’t be a nickelback on must teams.  Perplexing

Verdict: Fail

2. Contain Running Game

Hahaha!  Riiiiiight.  Jonathan Stewart had 206 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.  That’s a 7.4 average.  The team was allergic to tackling all day, mostly attempting weak arm tackles.  There were times when I saw defensive backs backpedaling away from the ball-carrier instead of coming up to try and make a play.  The team just had no interest in tackling.

Even fullback Brad Hoover had 37 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries.  Overall, the Panthers ran for 247 yards, dropping under 250 only because they took a couple kneel downs to end the game.

Verdict: EPIC FAIL

3. Block Julius Peppers

The very first play of the game, Julius Peppers came in unblocked and tackled Brandon Jacobs for a loss of three yards.  He didn’t continue to play that dominant for the entire game, nor was he as unstoppable as he was last week, but he still beat the Giants’ offensive line on numerous occasions.

Peppers finished with a sack, two tackles for a loss and a QB hit.

Verdict: Fail

4. Commit To The Run

Kevin Gilbride must have been confused by my word choice.  When I said commit to the run, I didn’t mean “stop doing what is working just for the sake of committing to the run.”

After the first drive in which Eli Manning moved the ball almost at will on the Panthers, with Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield, Kevin Gilbride decided to put Brandon Jacobs back into the game.  First play: a thirteen yard completion to Steve Smith.  Eli was in total control and the Panthers pass defense was on their heels.

What does gilbride call next?  Two straight Brandon Jacobs runs.  The result: one yard.

The day continued like this for Jacobs, who finished with one yard on six carries.  I’ll repeat: one yard on six carries.  Ahmad Bradshaw had a respectable 53 yards on 11 carries, yet Jacobs was still in the game during what could have been crucial drives in the second quarter.

It’s not Gilbrides fault that Jacobs has become a shell of his former self, but we’ve seen this all season.  Jacobs’ terrible performance yesterday should not have surprised anyone.  Gilbride and Coughlin should have had a shorter leash with Jacobs, knowing that they can no longer entrust their season in his hands.

Verdict: Fail

5. Cover The Tight End

The Panthers’ top two tight ends combined for one reception and two yards.  The one reception was a touchdown, however.  Still, not much to write about here.

Verdict: Success

Conclusion:  It’s not too hard to see that the Giants failed miserably in the top four keys.  When you cant stop the run and you can’t run the ball, you’re going to have to do everything else right in order to win.  That clearly did not happen.  Add four Giants turnovers and no Panthers turnovers, and it’s easy to see why 41-9 was a score that accurately portrays the competitiveness of this game.

Other Game Notes:

- This was the only game the Giants lost this season to a non-playoff team.  They also beat only one playoff team, the Cowboys (twice).  This fact alone should show you what their chances were had they somehow made the playoffs.  It also shows you that the Giants were firmly entrenched among the middle tier of teams; good enough to blow out bad teams, could not compete with good teams.

- It was a battle of Steve Smiths, and ours won!  Take that, Carolina!  What is interesting, though, is the symmetry involved.  Both Steve Smiths had pretty good games, but were both injured while scoring touchdowns…okay I guess it wasn’t that interesting.

- Hakeem Nicks had another bad drop.  At what point do we start to worry that his huge hands are not as sticky as advertised?

- Michael Boley fooled horribly on Stewart’s touchdown run.  It was almost as if he saw a ghost and started chasing it.  Boley has had a good year, but he has had a couple of notable lapses.

- Why design a pass play specifically to Madison Hedgecock?  With all the talented weapons the Giants have on offense, they should NEVER design a play specifically for Hedgecock, especially on third down.  Manning hit a wide open Hedgecock in the corner of the end zone, and not surprisingly, the full back dropped it.

Bonehead of the Week: New York Giants

With the fans pumped up and with guys like Harry Carson, Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor in attendance, these Giants players and coaches should be ashamed and embarrassed.  That is all I have to say.

I usually write my hangover column on the mornings after games.  This morning I have no hangover, just an empty, barren feeling. 

The 2009 Giants pulled a Mets on New York this year – they collapsed.  In this case, the Giants had a pedigree of winning, though, which makes this plane wreck harder to digest.

Now will come the hard decisions for GM Jerry Reese, who has had his toast buttered for him here from day one.  Suddenly Reese is facing a critical moment in his tenure, one where he cannot guess wrong.

Coaching

Firstly, does Reese bring back head coach Tom Coughlin? Or does he keep him but strip him of his coordinators?  This sounds like an extreme notion, but Reese will explore this avenue.  The team did not respond to the coaches in the second half of this season. That usually leads to changes in my experience………

Take away 2007, and Coughlin’s teams have no other significant victories to hang their hats on.  During Coughlin’s reign, his teams either failed to make the playoffs or were eliminated right away when they did.

Personally, it may be time for him to move on, anyway…..

Offense

This is Eli Manning’s team, so whatever needs to be done has to be done to support him.  In my eyes, they are pretty much set.  All they need is a third RB, some line depth and a tall WR (which is what we thought they had in Ramses Barden, if they ever let him play).

Defense

Justin Tuck gets a pass because he played the season with one arm in a sling.  Everyone else should be ashamed of themselves.

A new coordinator (Romeo Crennel?, Rob Ryan?) might re-ignite this group, but they will still need to upgrade at almost every position if they can.

Osi Umenyiora should stop sulking and telling everyone he sees that the Giants are looking to dump him.  The Giants want him.  They want him to shut up and play better, that’s all.

I do not see Antonio Pierce returning.  Reese will search long and hard for the right centerpiece to take over.  I trust this will be very high on the list.

Also high on the list will be a complete overhaul of the defensive backfield.  If Kenny Phillips comes back healthy, he’s got a job waiting for him.  The rest will have to sing for their supper.

Worst Home Loss In Years Turns Farewell Into a Dud

They saved the worst for last.

The 32-point drubbing the Giants absorbed today at the Meadowlands was their third-worst defeat in the 34-year history of Giants Stadium.  That hasn’t been confirmed to me as of yet, but who really cares?

The Giants got whupped at every twist and turn by a very mediocre Carolina club that had nothing to play for but pride.  That could not be said of the Giants, who came into the game with playoff aspirations and left with absolutely nothing to be proud of.

They had no fire – again – and were out-hustled and out-executed in a most pedestrian effort that sent most of the customers home much earlier than expected.

The defense registered another listless showing, allowing an opponent a 200-yard rushing performance for the first time in three decades.  They could not make a stop on third down when it counted, missing tackles that would make a Pop Warner-level coach cringe.

On offense, they did not hang onto the football in key situations and barely protected quarterback Eli Manning exposing him to the Carolina pass rush.

The debacle is sure to mean the end of any playoff chances, as it would require the Cowboys to lose twice and the Giants to win in Minnesota next week.

It also promises to bring major changes to both the coaching staff and roster for 2010.  DC Bill Sheridan is the likeliest casualty.  DE Osi Umenyiora commented that he may be gone as well.

This season has been a huge disappointment for Giant fans.  The year began with a five-game win streak, which served as an elixir for the bitter loss to Philadelphia in last year’s NFC Divisional Playoffs.

But that petered out by Week Six, (the Giants have gone 3-7 since) and they have unraveled in the ugliest of fashions.  The team’s staple unit – the defense – has been an embarrassment, allowing over 25 points per game – the third highest in team history.

With one game remaining, the Giants are only 17 points away from surrendering 400 or more points in a season.  The last time that happened was 1980.