Happy New Year: Pre-Hangover Report
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.
