...posted by Jared Blank...
Recently I had the chance to interview Ernie Palladino from The Journal News. 
Ernie’s blog can be found here.
Ernie has been the Giants beat reporter since 1989.
Jared Blank, giantsfootballblog.com: One word to describe the journey of the 2007 Giants?
Ernie Palladino: Incredible
JB: How would you rate the city’s/tri state’s reaction to the Giants compared with ‘86 and ‘90?
EP: This was much bigger. From what we heard in Arizona, the minute Eli threw the touchdown pass to Burress, people in the city streamed out of doorways and started celebrating. Yelps could be heard from one building to the next, and Times Square looked like New Year’s Eve. As for the post-victory celebration, remember than in 1986 Mayor Ed Koch refused to have a parade, and in ‘91 the Gulf War was going on, so the Giants thought it improper to have any kind of celebration. All that changed this year.
JB: How big of an impact was Tiki Barber’s departure on the health of the locker room?
EP: Tiki’s departure had a positive effect in that one of the main, critical voices of the coaching staff was gone. A lot of players followed his lead, and with him gone and a leadership committee in place, players took their gripes to the committee and kept things in-house. There was a minimum of second-guessing and selfishness in the locker room this year, and virtually no behind-the-scenes criticism.
JB: Prior to SB42 victory, was Eli Manning treated fairly by the media and fans?
EP: I believe he was. Perhaps a bit too harshly, but his body of work suggested all the criticism that was directed toward him. He had not attained many of the goals the staff set for him in training camp. His completion average was well below what was expected, and he was making the big mistake at the critical time. Even in his comeback victories, (i.e. Chicago, Philly, Buffalo) he was not impressive, but rather had other players doing fantastic things to make it all possible. It wasn’t until that final Patriots game, and then the playoffs, where he started to blossom into a heady quarterback.
JB: Is Eli Manning a ‘good weather’ QB or is it too soon to make that judgment?
EP: Manning proved in Green Bay that he can win in horribly adverse conditions, so I think the whole weather discussion is academic now. Before Green Bay, I would have said he’s definitely a warm-weather quarterback. My opinion of him changed significantly after Green Bay.
JB: With a mix of Derrick Ward, Reuben Droughns, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, how do you see the Giants RB situation playing out next season?
EP: The Giants are currently trying to sign back Derrick Ward, who would then become the third running back behind Jacobs and Bradshaw. I wouldn’t be surprised if Droughns was sent packing before free agency starts to clear some cap room. So, assuming Droughns isn’t there, the Giants will go with that fantastic 1-2 punch of Jacobs and Bradshaw, and backed up by Ward. There is one thing that could keep Droughns around, though, and that’s the overall health. Remember, that backfield started with an overcrowded situation, but quickly thinned out because of injuries. They might just need Droughns as a safety net after witnessing what happened this year.
JB: How does Jeremy Shockey fit back into this team after the injury and solid rookie performance of Kevin Boss?
EP: Jeremy Shockey will remain the team’s starting tight end, with Boss serving as the second tight end as his blocking skills continue to develop. Shockey, though not as dangerous a pass-catcher as usual because of his increased blocking assignments, was instrumental in the run game because of those blocking skills. To think the Giants would trade him or cut him is just about ludicrous. Also consider that he’s coming off a broken fibula, which makes him virtually unmarketable. So he’s sticking around.
JB: What member of the Giants is the most media friendly?
EP: Justin Tuck, with Shaun O’Hara a close second. Those two were always around to answer any and all questions just about every day. But the locker room is filled with good guys. It’s not a bad room to work if you’re a reporter. Most are well-spoken, and won’t run and hide when controversy arises.
JB: Talk a little bit about Coach Tom Coughlin’s relationship with the media and how if at all he has changed since he took the job?
EP: I really never had a problem with Coughlin’s attitude toward us. He’s a guy who would rather spend five hours reviewing game film than five minutes being interviewed. That’s fine. And that never really changed this year. What did change were some of his policies, like access to the assistant coaches and coordinators. That still needs work, but at least we got some coordinator almost every week. He could still get aggravated at times, but that’s fine. That’s who he is, and I don’t need him to change his personality.
JB: In Jerry Reese’s first draft as Giants GM, all eight players he drafted made the team and many had major contributions to a Super Bowl victory. Do you recall a more successful Giants Draft class?
EP: Really, it’s hard to remember a class that contributed so much. A lot of others had most of the draft making the team, but in this one, all but Adam Koets became key contributors. An amazing draft - a home run as Ernie Accorsi called it.
JB: Are you surprised Steve Spagnuolo did not take the Redskins job?
EP: Not at all. For one thing, the Redskins’ situation is a mess. Daniel Snyder is a meddler, the team is $20 million over the salary cap. The whole organization is chaotic. Besides, Steve has a good head on his shoulders. He knows he could use another year as a defensive coordinator to better prepare him for a head coaching job. If he does next year what he did this year with the defense, he’ll have his choice of better situations.
JB: What was your take on SpyGate?
EP: Way overblown. I don’t condone cheating, and Belichick and the Pats were punished appropriately. But I question how much value there really was in taping the sideline signals. Coaches change their signals every game and take extreme precautions to avoid having their secrets stolen. I don’t think Spygate taints any of the Pats’ previous Super Bowl accomplishments. So, you ask, if there’s no value in it, why did Belichick do it? Because, like all coaches, he thought he might get an edge. All football coaches are control freaks to an extent, and all do everything they can to gain as much information as possible, even if such info is so miniscule that it can’t possibly help them win a game. That’s the case here. He got caught, that’s what makes this different than the typical coaching hijinks (spying from hotel windows, scanning newspapers and websites, etc.)
JB: Are you in favor of the NFL playing games outside of the continental US?
EP: No. I hate it. For one thing, it deprives a team of a home game. For another, I see no reason to bother the soccer-playing world with a game that holds minimal interest for them. This is simply an NFL marketing ploy to sell more jerseys and sweatshirts in an untapped market. Needless and greedy is what it is.
JB: How many Super Bowls have you attended?
EP: I lost count, actually. But I believe this was my 11th or 12th Super Bowl.
JB: Describe your overall Super Bowl 42 experience.
EP: Super Bowl is a very busy time for a reporter. Up early, working late. Many stories to be written and, in the case of Arizona, two fewer hours every day to get it all done because of the time change. These are not fun experiences. But as a professional, it’s where you want to be. Can’t tell you what a thrill it was to tell the story of that game and that whole incredible, improbable playoff run. One of, if not the, greatest stories I’ve covered in my 32-year career. That’s our reward for all the work of the Super Bowl week, a great game and a great story.
JB: Do you feel the two week break between Conference Championships and the SB is necessary and is that something you feel will ever change?
EP: It’s totally unnecessary, but it will never change, either. The league is getting too much publicity mileage now out of that extra week. It is, I’m afraid to say, here forever.
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Gary Grund, Giants Football Blog: Your father didn’t like the idea of you playing football at first. As your career went on, how did your father look at your profession?
