Author Archives: John Fennelly

About John Fennelly

Managing Editor of SNY.tv's Giants Football Blog - the ultimate destination for New York Giants' news, opinion and entertainment.

The Giants received their Super Bowl XLVI rings tonight at Tiffany’s in Manhattan. Lots of faces old and new glowed when garnished with the newest addition of bling.

The ring not only has significance for this current Super Bowl team, but honors the franchise’s previous championship clubs as well. From Michael Eisen of Giants.com:

The rings shank tells the story of this season’s championship team and honors The Giants legacy. One shank of the ring has the Giants logo, the Lombardi Trophy, the NFL shield, the words “Super Bowl XLVI” and the final score – NYG 21 NE 17. The opposite shank has the recipient’s name, the Giants circular logo with the player’s number in the center and EST. 1925 (the year the franchise was founded). The lower palm side of shanks list the four seasons the Giants won the Super Bowl: 1986, 1990, 2007 and 2011.

The rings also have the team’s credo (“Finish”) and battle cry (“All-In”)  - which played huge roles in keeping the team focused and on course for another championship – engraved on the inside.

“We definitely wanted ‘Finish,’ we definitely wanted ‘All In,’”  Justin Tuck said as per Paul Schwartz of The Post. “Those were two things we prided ourselves on, not only during the season, but especially through the playoff run. And we won games that way. So we definitely wanted those in there.”

“Stray [former Giant Michael Strahan] talked about the 10-table ring,” Tuck said. “He wanted a ring you could see from 10 tables away. I talked about the restaurant ring. I wanted one that was big enough to see throughout whatever restaurant you go in and see it from each corner.’”

Any suggestions for next year’s ring?

 

Tagged New York Giants News |

Mark Bavaro revealed this week that Giants’ kicker Matt Bahr was suffering the after effects of a concussion when he booted the Giants to the Super Bowl in 1990.

“don’t think he knew where he was,” Bavaro told reporters via the Star-Ledger. “He’d tackled somebody on a kickoff return earlier in the game and he was kind of out of it. [Giants long snapper] Steve DeOssie had to kind of, actually, guide him on the field and line it up. But you know, that was regular stuff back then. Matt was a great guy, a tough guy, and we certainly appreciated him coming out and doing that for us. But I don’t think that stuff happens today.”

Bavaro is not one to mince words, and this time is no different. He’s not telling takes out of school. Times have changed and treatment for concussions have, too. This type of thing happened in almost every game to somebody….

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Tagged Mark Bavaro, Matt Bahr, New York Giants |

Giants’ defensive captain Justin Tuck says there are no flames to Osi Umenyiora contract situation right now, so stop trying to fan them….from Mike Garafolo:

“It ain’t that we don’t care. We just understand it’s a part of the game, and why make it bigger than what it is?” said the defensive captain, appearing at the screening for Subway, a sponsor of the movie starring the Giants’ inspirational figure Lt. Col. Greg Gadson. “You can add fuel to a fire and make it huge. Right now, it’s just smoke, you don’t even see the flames yet. So we’d like to keep it that way.”

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The Giants will receive their Super Bowl XLVI Championship rings tonight at Tiffany’s. There has been quite a bit of tweeting going around regarding what the rings will look like.

Head coach Tom Coughlin is not concerned so much with the style, just the substance…..

I think the players had their statements based on the last (ring) and what we thought would improve from the last time. They asked me. I said I would like one thing on there: ‘World Champions.”"

His son-in-law, Chris Snee, who was also at the Waldorf last night for the United Way of NYC Gridiron Gala, said he was excited about receiving his second ring in five years.

OL Chris Snee said he got a glimpse of the new ring thanks to some tweets from teammates, although no one could confirm whether any of those mockups were what the team eventually went with….

“I’m excited to put it next to the other one,” he said. When asked what the difference is between this ring and the first one Snee said “it’s got one more color in it, that’s all.”

He said he rarely wears the XLII ring but will wear it tonight to see them “side-by-side”, although he could not wear them on consecutive fingers…

Tagged New York Giants News |

Giants’ OL Chris Snee was one of the players honored at the Waldorf last night.

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Giants’ OL Chris Snee was one of the honorees at the United Way of New York City Gridiron Gala last night at the Waldorf.

He is normally not one to be the center of attention, but that does not inhibit his calendar when it comes to attending charity functions:

“I like to do off the field work and not really get noticed for it. It’s just the way I’ve always been. If someone asks me if I want a camera there, I say ‘no’.”

Snee is one of the two remaining lineman (David Diehl is the other) from the team’s record-setting group of a few years back. Change is coming, as the team has been loading up on young lineman and Snee appears to be prepared.

“It’s exciting, but then again I’ve seen rookies come and go, so you can’t really count on them until you see what they can do on the field. Time will tell, and then we’ll get excited or move on. They come in and they have to prove to us they can play and they know the offense and can catch on quickly.” Snee said last night.

He said the logical thing for the team to do during this transition period is to move Diehl to right tackle and place Will Beatty back at LT. He, of course, will remain at RG.

“My number will be called at some point, and they’ll have to put another right guard in there,’’ Snee stated in between photo ops and autographs. “I’m enjoying being the right guard and hopefully have a better season than last.’’

He did not make excuses about the line’s poor performance in the rushing game last year. He was asked if his elbow had caused his play to falter. Injuries, he said, were not to blame.

“I need to play better,” he said.

Tagged Chris Snee, New York Giants |

Former and current NY football stars were out in force last night at the Waldorf-Astoria in midtown at the United Way of NYC’s Gridiron Gala to benefit local at-risk youths.

In attendance were such legends as Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Joe Namath, Joe Klecko, Sean Landeta and Wesley Walker. Giants’ head coach Tom Coughlin signed mini-footballs from the moment he walked in the door to the moment he sat down to dinner….Victor Cruz, Chris Snee, Chris Canty, Hakeem Nicks, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Dustin Keller, Lawrence Tynes and Muhammad Wilkinson were among the current players in the house last night

SNY’s Jeane Coakley spoke with Namath, who drew a huge crowd all night long…

Victor Cruz signed dozens of mini-footballs for the fans at the Waldorf last night.

Tagged New York Giants News, New York Jets, United Way |

Lots going on around town tonight with Giants appearing at several events in Manhattan (see posts below). Here is what is happening otherwise…

The team parted ways with safety Chad Jones, who suffered a setback in his quest to return to action. Jones failed a physical and his doctors cited major concerns in regards to the actual progress his badly damaged lower leg had been making. (READ) 

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Another player’s comeback bid is going much better. CB Terrell Thomas says his rehab from ACL surgery is ahead of schedule and he plans to resume his Giants career in a starting CB role this season.

“I am. I don’t care what they say,” Thomas told Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News at a charity event yesterday. “There’s no disrespect for any of the guys in the locker room. It’s just my mentality. As a rookie I said I was going to be a starter. I just worked my butt off and finally became one. Especially at the corner position you’ve got to be confident in that manner in my opinion. I can’t be sitting here saying, ‘Well, we’ll see.’”

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Head coach Tom Coughlin will be recognized by the US Army for his efforts assisting veterans and servicemen. From Mike Garafolo:

“On May 23, Coughlin will be one of five recipients of the Outstanding Civilian Service Award, the third-highest public service honor the U.S. Army can bestow upon a civilian. The award will be presented to Coughlin by Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the current Chief of Staff of the Army, a Dover native, an avid Giants fan and a close friend of Coughlin, at Quarters One (the home of the Army Chief of Staff) in Arlington, Va.” (READ) 

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DT Chris Canty told Ralph Vacchiano yesterday that he is recovering well from off-season surgery and should be ready for training camp.

“Obviously there’s a lot of work between now and then for me to be ready to get me to that point,” Canty said. “But the doctors feel good about the progress and they’re confident that I’ll be ready.”

The Giants are prepared if he doesn’t. They have last year’s second-round pick Marvin Austin coming back after missing a year due a torn pec, who aims to challenge Canty. Don’t forget, they drafted DT Markus Kuhn in the seventh round this year and signed veteran DT Shaun Rogers last month.

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The Giants announced the signings of LB Jake Muasau, WR Brandon Collins and safety Will Hill, who will assume Chad Jones’ spot on the roster. Hill, a West Orange native, began his college career at Florida with high hopes only to fall victim to his fame.

At Florida, Hill was reportedly exhibited some unseemly behavior off the field, documented by his graphic and unfiltered Twitter account. It was enough to draw sanctions from Gator coach Urban Meyer and prevent Hill from being selected in last year’s NFL Draft. The Giants are the first team to take a flier on the talented safety, who was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of high school.

“When I was in college, I was the No. 1 athlete coming out and then going straight to a team that won the national championship, that had the possibility to win another one, it was just rock star status basically,” Hill said last weekend at rookie camp as per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York. “My head got big and I did let my gifts get away and start acting like a fool, basically. So I did waste my talent in some aspects.” 

“It’s been a hard time, many nights crying, many night just wondering, ‘When is this going to happen?’ But people were like, ‘Look, you’re a good athlete. Just work on being a better person.’ And that’s something I needed to do. I needed to calm down and sit down, and that’s what I did.” 

 

Tagged New York Giants News |

SUBWAY® Restaurants to Honor Military Heroes with Exclusive Screening of Universal Pictures’ BATTLESHIP Aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Sandwich Chain Teams Up with BATTLESHIP Director Peter Berg, New York Football Champion Justin Tuck, and U.S. Army Col. Gregory D. Gadson to Host Wounded Warrior Project™ Alumni

WHAT: WWP Alumni will join Tuck, Berg and Gadson for an exclusive screening of Universal Pictures’ BATTLESHIP, hosted by SUBWAY® Restaurants. The epic-scale action-adventure arrives in theaters May 18th.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 15th – Photos and interviews begin at 7:00 pm ET

WHERE: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – Pier 86 / 46th Street & Twelfth Avenue

Soon to be the home of the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum complex includes the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier ‘Intrepid’ with seven full decks and four theme halls; the guided missile submarine Growler; and an extensive collection of over 27 aircraft including the A-12 Blackbird, the fastest plane in the world, and the British Airways Concorde, the fastest commercial aircraft in the world.

Tagged Battleship, Justin Tuck, New York Giants |

UNITED WAY TO TEAM WITH NY JETS AND NY GIANTS TO SCORE FOR AT-RISK KIDS IN NYC AT GRIDIRON GALA

NY Jet Brandon Moore, NY Giant Chris Snee and NFL Hall-of-Famer Harry Carson among Honorees

Former NY Jet Joe Namath and Current NY Giant Victor Cruz Among Players Expected to Attend

The 19th Annual Gridiron Gala, supporting United Way-led initiatives that benefit New York City’s most vulnerable children and youth, will be held on May 15, 2012. Sponsored by the New York Jets, the Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants, and United Way of New York City, the event will honor current players Brandon Moore and Chris Snee with the Hometown Hero award to recognize their service to the community and retired NY Giant Harry Carson with the MVP Award, which recognizes his lifetime achievement.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012
6:00 PM: VIP and General Receptions
7:00 PM: Dinner and Awards Presentation

WHERE: Grand Ballroom, Waldorf-Astoria (Park Avenue and 50th Street)

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Tagged New York City, New York Giants, New York Jets, United Way |

Safety Chad Jones, the Giants’ 2010 third-round draft pick who badly mangled his leg in an auto accident two years ago, was waived by the team today after failing a physical.

“We consider Chad to be part of the Giants family, and we’ll continue to work with him in his rehab,” Giants GM Jerry Reese said today. “As we’ve said since his accident, we’re thankful he is alive and able to lead a normal life.”

The team also announced they signed Florida safety Will Hill to fill Jones’ roster spot.

Jones’ doctor cited that the former LSU baseball and football star suffered a setback in what had become a compelling comeback story. From the team’s website:

“Chad had a severe injury to his left leg, involving a complex tibial fracture with associated injury to muscle, nerves, and vascular structures,” said Dr. Scott Rodeo, a Giants associate team physician. “This type of injury is often limb threatening, and can sometimes require amputation. He has made a remarkable recovery to date, with successful salvage of the leg. However, at this time he has residual sensory loss, muscle weakness, and tenuous soft tissue coverage in the involved lower leg. The resultant functional impairment precludes his ability to perform physically at the level required for professional football.”

Hill, who hails from West Orange, was a highly-touted high school star who had a unceremonious career in Gainesville and went undrafted in last year’s NFL draft. His only pro experience is with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League.

Tagged Chad Jones, New York Giants |

Rookie minicamp os over and the Giants have found the players who will fill the two remaining spots on their 90-man roster going into next month’s full-team minicamp.

They are LB Jake Muasau of Georgia State and Brandon Collins, a WR from Southeastern Louisiana.

“I’m going to go out there and do my thing and see if I can get a contract,” Muasau told the Atlanta Journal Constitution two weeks ago after getting an invite to TIMEX. And that is exactly what he did.

Mussau is listed at 6’1″, 243 and was a top playmaker at GSU. Mausau made 106 tackles (16.5 tackles for a loss), had three interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in his two seasons with the Panthers.

Collins (5-11, 180) is another redemption project taken in by the Giants. He originated his college career under Mack Brown at Texas but was dismissed after being arrested on felony armed robbery charges near Austin in 2009. He resurfaced at SE Louisiana a year later after his legal issues were cleared up.

Tagged New York Giants News | ← Older posts