February 07, 2012 ,
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POST STAFF REPORT
Kurt Warner says Eli Manning's two Super Bowl rings aren't going to get him into the Hall of Fame.The former Giants teammate of Manning said on an Arizona radio station the quarterback's numbers,... Read on
February 07, 2012 ,
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POST STAFF REPORT
Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has some advice for budding football analyst Gisele Bundchen."She just needs to continue to be cute and shut up," Jacobs said of Tom Brady's wife at the MetLife... Read on
Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has some advice for budding football analyst Gisele Bundchen.
"She just needs to continue to be cute and shut up,"
Jacobs said of Tom Brady's wife at the MetLife Stadium rallyfor the Super Bowl champion Giants.
Bundchen was extremely critical of the Patriots receivers after they dropped several passes in their 21-17 Super Bowl XLVI loss on Sunday.
GIANTS HAILED AS HEROES
PHOTOS: GIANTS CELEBRATE WITH PARADE
RE-LIVE THE CELEBRATION WITH THE POST'S RUNNING BLOG
APGiants' Brandon Jacobs celebrates.
“My husband cannot [expletive] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time,"
the model said as she was leaving Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times."
Though unnamed, the primary target of her rant would seem to be Wes Welker, who dropped a fourth-quarter pass that could have sealed a win for the Patriots.
"I mean she's supposed to stay out of things like that," Osi Umenyiora said Tuesday. "But at the end of the day that's their relationship and she has the right to say whatever she wants to."
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Welker was the subject of another taunt Tuesday when
8,000 Butterfinger candy bars were left for the Patriots in Boston's Copley Square.
With Brian Costello
February 04, 2012 ,
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By JUSTIN TERRANOVA
INDIANAPOLIS -- Three seasons is not a long time in between Super Bowls, except maybe in Giants years.It was a special brand of losing and frustration that moved coach Tom Coughlin from the king’s... Read on
INDIANAPOLIS -- Three seasons is not a long time in between Super Bowls, except maybe in Giants years.
It was a special brand of losing and frustration that moved coach Tom Coughlin from the king’s throne to the hot seat in a short amount of time. The same goes for Eli Manning, who was drawing the ire of Giants fans after last season’s NFL-high 25 interceptions.
It’s because the Giants just didn’t lose, they ripped their fans' hearts out, erasing the amazing memories from the Super Bowl XLII. So when the Giants say how much they appreciate being back here for Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots, and the importance of not squandering opportunities, it’s not lip service.
"You try to work hard to get to this position,” Manning said this week with the Giants back in the Super Bowl. “Having been in the NFL for eight years, you realize how rare it is to get here, how special it is and what a great opportunity it is.”
In 2008, the Giants seem poised for a repeat, or at the very least a serious run at another Super Bowl. They were 10-1 before Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg, 11-1 before every one realized the details of what happened. And they were 12-4 when the season ended, still the NFC’s top seed, though in name only. They would lose to the rival Eagles in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
“It’s an incredible experience to grasp it once again. We were in the Super Bowl four years ago and we thought we had a heck of a team in ’08, and got knocked out of the playoffs right away,” Coughlin said, having gone from nearly fired to one win away from a serious Hall of Fame candidate.
Too young to appreciate the Bears 1986 championship, I had to wait a good 18 years before I watched the team I grew up rooting for to make it to the Super Bowl. I jumped on right after Jim McMahon left and right in time for Mike Tomczak, Jim Harbaugh (great coach, average player), Steve Walsh, Erik Kramer (the high point), Dave Krieg, Rick Mirer, Moses Moreno (oh God), Shane Matthews, Cade McNown, Jim Miller, Kordell Stewart, Chris Chandler (way past his prime), Kordell Stewart (Slash my wrists), Rex Grossman, Craig Krenzel, Chad Hutchinson, Jonathan Quinn, Kyle Orton, Grossman again (Super Bowl loss) and Brian Griese before the Bears traded for Jay Cutler.
But there was a certainty that came with this group. I knew they were not winning a Super Bowl, even with a defense that bordered on tremendous sometimes. Even when they got there, it was Grossman versus Peyton Manning in a scenario that played out predictably. The large number of Colts and Bears jerseys in this town have served as a pleasant reminder.
Maybe that’s changed now with Cutler, but that’s not a discussion for this space.
But with Manning and a Super Bowl already, the Giants always seem capable of competing for a title. They did not change that with a 5-0 start in 2009, a season that ended with a 41-9 loss in the final game at Giants Stadium, and a 44-7 loss in Minnesota.
“We spent a couple years out of the playoffs, and our hunger for being back was great,” Coughlin said. “There were times this year when it looked like it wasn’t going to happen for us this year and it did again. You have to have a great appreciation for this. Anyone who goes through this experience and doesn’t grab a hold of it or grasp the significance of it doesn’t understand that there are great, outstanding coaches and players who haven’t been to a Super Bowl game, and get to this point. You thank God for the opportunity and you never, ever tire or even possibly think this happens on a normal basis.”
Then there was last season, when the Giants went 10-6, but that was not good enough to win the division or earn a wild-card spot. Normally, you shake your head and move on, but that season was defined by a particularly horrifying loss to the eventual division-champion Eagles. That’s when Philadelphia scored the final 28 points in the fourth quarter, getting the winning touchdown on a DeSean Jackson punt return on the final play of the game.
“Everybody’s in a different circumstance. You want to relay to the young guys that this may be their last one,” Manning said. “Whether you’re in your 14th year or you’re in your first year, both of those guys have to treat that the same. In my eighth year, this might be the last one I ever get to. You want to make the most of it and make sure you don’t let it slip away.”
Manning knows that better than most.
February 04, 2012 ,
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By JUSTIN TERRANOVA
INDIANAPOLIS -- The grass is always Gang Greener.Plaxico Burress has come here this week, the same week as four years ago when he had his best moment in the NFL: catching the Giants’ game-winning... Read on
INDIANAPOLIS -- The grass is always Gang Greener.
Plaxico Burress has come here this week, the same week as four years ago when he had his best moment in the NFL: catching the Giants’ game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII against the Patriots.
Burress has sung the praises of former quarterback Eli Manning and reminisced about his time with the Giants.
When The Post asked him about the Jets, for whom he played this season, he suddenly clammed up.
Now Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and coach Rex Ryan have suddenly become the enemies to Burress. But that’s not what he was saying before the Jets’ disappointing 8-8 season.
No one can blame Burress for choosing the Jets over the Giants because they offered $3 million guaranteed, $2 million more than the Giants’ incentive-laden contract
But his mistake was made shortly after that when he decided to burn the Hackensack River Bridge back to the Giants.
“He’s not a real positive coach,” Burress said of Coughlin in an interview with Men’s Journal. “You look around the league, the Raheem Morrises and Rex Ryans — when their player makes a mistake, they take ’em to the side and say, ‘We’ll get ’em next time.’ But Coughlin’s on the sideline going crazy, man. I can’t remember one time when he tried to talk a player through not having a day he was having.”
In the same interview Burress said of Eli Manning, “I was always his biggest supporter, even days he wasn’t on, ’cause I could sense he didn’t have thick skin. Then I went away, and I thought he would come see me (in prison), but nothing, not a letter, in two years. I don’t want to say it was a slap in the face, but I thought our relationship was better than that.”
Now the Jets have been sitting home for a month, and the Giants are back in the Super Bowl against the Patriots, having gone on a similar run to the one Burress helped orchestrate four years ago.
And Burress is picking the Giants to win again, a result he said would put Manning in the Hall of Fame.
"If he goes out and wins this game," Burress said told ESPN Radio on Friday, "I really believe he's gonna be a Hall of Famer."
So, now that his Jets career is all but over, Burress is back to being Manning’s biggest supporter. Now, Coughlin’s way again seems right and Ryan admittedly lost the Jets’ locker room (and Morris was fired by the Buccaneers).
Burress was upset that Coughlin and Manning were not more supportive when he was sent to prison for shooting himself in the leg, a shot that single-handedly ended the Giants chances of a repeat three years ago. And a shot that was preceded by missed practices and suspensions that season, the only black eyes in one that seemed destined for another chance at greatness.
That’s fine. But if Burress had to do it again, he probably would not have fired a shot in the Giants direction this offseason. He would not admit it, but former Giants teammate and friend Brandon Jacobs said Burress regrets choosing Green over Blue this offseason.
His comments make it unlikely he would ever be welcomed back.
February 03, 2012 ,
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By JUSTIN TERRANOVA
INDIANAPOLIS -- We may finally be out of questions here at Super Bowl week, and the coaches are definitely out of answers. Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Giants coach Tom Coughlin met with the... Read on
INDIANAPOLIS -- We may finally be out of questions here at Super Bowl week, and the coaches are definitely out of answers.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Giants coach Tom Coughlin met with the media for the final time Friday morning and here’s some of their less-than-intriguing answers:
Belichick was asked to expand on what tight end Rob Gronkowski did in his limited practice work Thursday:
“He did some of the things that we did in practice, but not all of them. Is that the elaboration you were looking for?”
What a jokester. Belichick did not say for the seventh straight day that Gronkowski was day-to-day.
And, on the really important stuff, like the coach’s sleeping patterns:
“Slept like a baby. Honestly, I usually do during the season. I start early and have a full day of things that I need to do to prepare myself and prepare the team,” Belichick said, while not suppressing a yawn.
I can rest easy knowing that.
Coughlin was asked the same question:
“I get a good night’s sleep, get up in the morning, get a workout in. Get to the office really quick, hopefully before every one else.”
Me, too!
The final question asked of Coughlin, “fittingly” the reporter said, was how he came up with the “finish” phrase as the Giants mantra this season.
“I looked at things that were transpiring the last year, two years and I didn’t think we finished very well,” Coughlin said.
Now the Giants are finishing; interesting, interesting.
February 03, 2012 ,
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By JOSEPH BARRACATO
Life imitates art -- and when it comes to Electronic Arts, it closely mirrors reality. The creator of Madden NFL, the most popular and lucrative sports videogame franchise of all-time, has been... Read on
Life imitates art -- and when it comes to Electronic Arts, it closely mirrors reality.
The creator of Madden NFL, the most popular and lucrative sports videogame franchise of all-time, has been deadly accurate in predicting the outcome of the Super Bowl, which is great news for the Giants.
EA’s annual simulation culminates with the Giants topping the Patriots 27-24 in Super Bowl XLVI and hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the second time in four years.
The contest concludes with kicker Lawrence Tynes booting a game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expires, followed by a massive celebration that local fans are hoping to see for real on TV Sunday.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning is tapped the game’s MVP, completing 25 of 39 passes with two touchdowns, including a nail-biting final drive highlighted with catches from wide receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, and key runs by Ahmad Bradshaw.
SEE THE PHOTOS
If you still think it’s just a silly old videogame, take a look at these past simulations:
Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots 23, Panthers 20; Actual Score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
Super Bowl XL: Steelers 24, Seahawks 19; Actual score: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10
Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers 28, Cardinals 24; Actual score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
Super Bowl XLIV: Saints 35, Colts 31; Actual score: Saints 31, Colts 17
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February 03, 2012 ,
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By ANTHONY SULLA-HEFFINGER
You would think being spurned by Shaquille O’Neal 15 years ago would have taught the Magic how to deal with a disgruntled superstar center staring free agency in the face, right?Wrong.Orlando... Read on
You would think being spurned by Shaquille O’Neal 15 years ago would have taught the Magic how to deal with a disgruntled superstar center staring free agency in the face, right?
Wrong.
Orlando spiraled down our power rankings this week after losing to New Orleans, Indiana and Philadelphia. The Magic's only win this week came against the Wizards, whom we rank 29th overall. Things have gotten so bad Dwight Howard has resorted to publicly calling out his entire team.
“Looked like guys didn’t want to play,” Howard said following the loss to New Orleans. “I told them at halftime, if you don’t want to play, just stay in the locker room. It doesn’t make sense for a team we should beat to just demolish us.”
Though Howard does make a point, he is not helping the situation. It is common knowledge for even the most casual fan that Howard wants out of Orlando, and is almost certain to bolt to a bigger market in order to team up with another superstar-caliber player chasing a championship. Howard has become the dominant storyline night-in and night-out for the Magic.
It is why the Magic front office needs to pull the trigger and trade Howard in order to maximize the return. Denver moved Carmelo Anthony last season near the trade deadline and have been an improved team because of it.
If the past week shows anything, it is that Howard is destroying team morale and the Magic will not compete for a title, with or without him. They simply cannot let history repeat itself.
1. Bulls (19-6) (Previous Rank: 1) – Even though Chicago is 3-3 over its past six games, the Bulls still have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. Even without Richard Hamilton and Luol Deng, Chicago was able to win a road game against the Knicks. Derrick Rose may not be able to beat out LeBron James for MVP, but he is the best guard in the East.
2. Thunder (17-4) (2)– The Thunder’s big three of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden lead the team in rebounds, points and assists, respectively. Oklahoma City is the hottest team in the Western Conference, losing twice since Jan. 3.
3. Heat (16-6) (3) – 40 percent of the Eastern Conference All-Star starters are from Miami (James, Dwyane Wade). James has led the team in scoring in its past five contests.
4. Clippers (13-7) (4) – Everyone has been talking about this dunk. I’m tempted to drop the Clippers in the rankings just because Blake Griffin will not be in the dunk contest this year.
5. 76ers (16-6) (10) – Not only are the 76ers the NBA’s best defensive team (allowing 85.9 ppg), they have the highest point differential (11.6) and the longest current winning streak (four).
6. Pacers (15-6) (8) – Most impressive win over the past week was against the Timberwolves. Shocking, considering the Pacers beat the Magic by 21 points.
7. Lakers (13-9) (7) – Six-game road trip starts tonight against Denver. Only game during that span that should be an easy win is Toronto.
8. Nuggets (15-7) (9)– Avenged an earlier loss to the Clippers with a 21-point win Thursday night.
9. Hawks (16-7) (6)– Atlanta has beaten up on some of the NBA’s lesser teams and have struggled against the tougher ones (San Antonio, Memphis).
10. Mavericks (14-9) (14)– Continuing a league-wide trend, Dallas played perfectly fine without its best player. Jason Terry carried the Mavericks in Dirk Nowitzki’s absence.
11. Celtics (11-10) (15) – Boston is one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference. The Big Three look to have dialed the clock back to 2008.
12. Spurs (15-9) (12)– Staying afloat while awaiting the return of Manu Ginobili.
13. Trail Blazers (13-10) (11)– Longest winning streak has been three games, which happened to come in the first week of the season.
14. Rockets (12-10) (13)– Houston is 2-3 since it won seven in a row last month.
15. Bucks (10-11) (20)– Milwaukee is the only team that has beaten Miami twice this season.
16. Magic (13-9) (5) – The only thing magical about this team is its recent disappearing act.
17. Grizzlies (12-10) (16) – Will be tested over the next two weeks. Seven of Memphis’ next nine games come against teams with winning records.
18. Jazz (12-9) (17) – Utah has been torched by point guards Chris Paul and Monta Ellis in its past two games, both losses.
19. T’Wolves (10-12) (18) – Ricky Rubio had double-digit assists in five of the T’Wolves’ past seven contests.
20. Warriors (8-12) (21) – Dominated Utah 119-101 on the back of Ellis and his game-high 33 points.
21. Cavaliers (8-12) (22)– Kyrie Irving should make the All-Star team just for having people buzzing in Cleveland again.
22. Knicks (8-14) (19) – Missed out on signing Kenyon Martin, but the Knicks’ biggest concern is in the backcourt.
23. Nets (8-15) (24) – Dwight Howard rumors are swirling again.
24. Suns (8-13) (25)– Steve Nash will be a hotly pursued target as the trade deadline approaches.
25. Raptors (7-16) (23)– Offense has not been able to score more than 100 points without Andrea Bargnani.
26. Kings (7-15) (26)– Sacramento has scored more than 100 points in two games this season. The last time was Jan. 5 against Milwaukee.
27. Pistons (4-20) (27) – Greg Monroe is debunking the myth of the sophomore slump. He’s also a candidate for the NBA’s most-improved player.
28. Wizards (4-18) (29)– Kept it competitive against Orlando and Chicago.
29. Hornets (4-19) (30)– New Orleans has lost by a total of 65 points in its past four games.
30. Bobcats (3-20) (28)– Ten-game losing streak earns you the bottom spot in the power rankings.
February 01, 2012 ,
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By JUSTIN TERRANOVA
INDIANAPOLIS -- Phil Simms recalled a story from 24 years ago that he thinks explains some of the Giants' success today. Simms was the quarterback for the Giants, and current head coach Tom Coughlin... Read on
INDIANAPOLIS -- Phil Simms recalled a story from 24 years ago that he thinks explains some of the Giants' success today.
Simms was the quarterback for the Giants, and current head coach Tom Coughlin was in his first year in New York coaching the receivers.
“And, I’ll tell this story about Tom. In 1988, and I’ve never said it. In a training camp practice there was like 20 guys out there, tight ends, running backs and receivers catching passes and none of them was going to make the team,” Simms said at the FedEx Air & Ground Awards on Wednesday.
“And Tom Coughlin and Mike Pope (tight ends coach) stayed out, and I threw balls to them for a good 20-25 minutes after practice was over. I was walking off the field and someone said, ‘Tom why’d you do that, none of these guys are going to make the team?’ And he goes, ‘It’s not my job to determine who’s going to make the team, they wanted to be coached, so I coached them.’ And I think that says it all about Tom.”
Coughlin has led the Giants to one world championship and has them on the verge of another, as they prepare to play the Patriots on Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI. Simms said that kind of persistence still exists in Coughlin and is one of the major reasons he’s enjoyed an impressive run in New York.
“The one thing I will say about Tom even when he was an assistant with us back in the late '80s, it’s full go,” Simms said. “It’s always pedal to the medal, that whole thing. It’s not a cliché with him. In New Orleans, they kept throwing the ball at the end of the game when they had no chance of winning because Tom’s (thinking) is there’s still time on the clock, you never know. You’re down 28, but he thinks they can score four times in 30 seconds.”
That 49-24 Week 12 thrashing by the Saints may have been the low point for the Giants this season. They would lose their next game by three points to the Packers before winning three of their final four regular-season games then three straight in the playoffs. That run put them into Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots, and another coach from those old Giants teams, Bill Belichick.
Simms said he sees similarities between the head coaches.
“Looking back now I think you say, yeah they had all the traits that make you successful: Knowledge, incredible workers,” Simms said. “ A couple of things they have in common now is that they haven’t tired of the process, not tired of coaching and minicamps and free agency … winning hasn’t spoiled them and success hasn’t spoiled them. I think that’s a big deal.
"Tom Coughlin is still acting like he’s trying to prove himself like this is the first job he ever had, and I know Bill Belichick has, too.”
February 01, 2012 ,
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By JUSTIN TERRANOVA
INDIANAPOLIS -- Before the season most people thought the NFC East team in the Super Bowl would be the Eagles, not the Giants. The Eagles first had to deal with a disappointing 8-8 season, now they... Read on
INDIANAPOLIS -- Before the season most people thought the NFC East team in the Super Bowl would be the Eagles, not the Giants.
The Eagles first had to deal with a disappointing 8-8 season, now they have to watch their rivals play in the Super Bowl. Most of the players get to do it from afar, but star running back LeSean McCoy came to the Super Bowl city for the FedEx Air & Ground awards. McCoy did win the Ground award, beating out the Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew and Ravens’ Ray Rice, but that was little consolation for him.
“It’s hard because you see a team you feel that you are better than, but that’s just words when they are actually doing it,” said McCoy, who ran for 113 yards in the Eagles' Week 11 win over the Giants.
McCoy begrudgingly picked the Giants to beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday.
“They got really hot,” McCoy said. “It’s all about when things go right … It’s the little stuff. They are doing real well. I want the Patriots to win, but it’s hard to say the way the Giants are playing defensively and offensively.
“They remind me of the Eagles a little bit on offense. It seems any given moment they can go the distance with their speedy wide receivers and the change of pace with their backs. And (Eli) Manning is playing like his brother (Peyton) right now. I’m not cheering for them, but the way they are playing.”
McCoy was asked what he thinks the Eagles have to do to get back to the top of the NFC East next season.
“We’ll have a full offseason to work together, a lot of changes with coaches, players,” McCoy said. “I think there’s a lot of great talent on our team. Late in the year, we gelled together. Coming off this season we’ll be ready. Little pressure on us to win some games, but sometimes the pressure is good for us.”
February 01, 2012 ,
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By JUSTIN TERRANOVA
INDIANAPOLIS -- Unlike some of Mark Sanchez’s unnamed teammates, Phil Simms still thinks the Jets quarterback can improve. The former Giants quarterback said there is a need for improvement, but... Read on
INDIANAPOLIS -- Unlike some of Mark Sanchez’s unnamed teammates, Phil Simms still thinks the Jets quarterback can improve.
The former Giants quarterback said there is a need for improvement, but Sanchez has the talent to make it happen.
“He has to change, yes,” Simms said at the FedEx Air & Ground awards that went to the Saints QB Drew Brees and Eagles RB LeSean McCoy.
“But if you’re good you will change, physically and everything else. He’s a smart guy, he’ll adapt. He’ll learn to throw it away “
Sanchez has come under fire from teammatessince the Jets season ended a disappointing, playoff-free 8-8, his relationship with top receiver Santonio Holmes has been called into a question.
“And all those things that none of us give him credit for that will help them win,” Simms said. “It’s the little things that can lead to greatness.”