T-Rock's Take on the Giants

A very informal poll of 15 Giants revealed that, among their teammates, Sam Madison
-- aka Ashy Larry, JB Smoove, Michael Johnson -- is the top trash talker on the current squad.

Madison received eight of 15 votes, if you can call them votes... They were more along the lines of this comment from Grey Ruegamer, whose locker is opposite Madison's: "It's that voice. He never shuts up and you can hear it from anywhere."

Others receiving votes inside the locker room...

-- Brandon Jacobs (2). He would have voted for himself, but he swears he doesn't talk much anymore. "The first two years? I never stopped," he said. "Now, I'm quiet." Not according to a couple teammates, especially one who had to intervene during the preseason game against the Ravens when Jacobs nearly started a brawl.

-- Osi Umenyiora. Another reformed trash talker. Justin Tuck recalled some of Osi's greatest hits from 2005, his Pro Bowl year. "You remember that 50 Cent track, 'Window Shopper?' That's what Osi called (Seahawks Pro Bowl tackle) Walter Jones. He stopped though, because Jones was ready the next year when they played." Tuck also said Umenyiora had some fun with Dolphins T Rex Hadnot's name in London.

Among former Giants...

-- Jessie Armstead. "A great talker," noted Strahan, "but no one ever understood a thing he said because he was too hyped up."

-- LaVar Arrington. "Talked a lot and he was funny, too," Jeremy Shockey said.

-- Frank Walker. "I can't imagine that surprises you," Reggie Torbor said. And it's true. Frank Walker was one of the two or three funniest guys I've covered.

And now, for the opponents... The winner, with four votes, is a certain ESPN commentator and noted author.

"Non. Stop," Gibril Wilson said. "He just never stopped. Ever. And he had me laughing too."

"I was a rookie and I was across from him," R.W. McQuarters said, "and he just goes, 'They sent you out to guard me? Come on. What are they doing over there?' So that kind of inspired me to fire back. And I was a pretty good talker in my day."

Madison always enjoyed a game against Johnson's teams, since the two were like a Jerry Springer show when they matched up.

-- Fred Smoot. "Sixty minutes a game, 16 games a year, four straight years," said Antonio Pierce, Smoot's teammate with the Redskins. "Win, lose, interception, pass knocked down, getting beat for touchdowns. None of it mattered. Smoot's your guy."

-- Joe Horn. "I didn't even know if he was speaking English," Pierce said. "When we played them Saints, him and Smoot were speaking Martian or something."

-- Joey Porter. "I only played him once," Jacobs said of the London game, "but he has it on lockdown. No. 1 for sure."

-- Lorenzo Neal. "Wouldn't think a fullback would be so talkative, would you?" Torbor said. "But he'd talk and he'd back it up by running you over. That's a tough combination."

-- Shannon Sharpe. "Funny and relentless with the talk," Strahan said.

OK, gang. There'll be some relevant posts in a bit, once practice gets underway. And we'll see if Madison is up to the challenge of trash talking while it's snowing in Soldier Field. Maybe it'll keep him warm.