2008 opponents just about set; some locker-room banter
Just checking the standings and the Giants' opponents next season are just about set.
Aside from the usual home and home dates with the Redskins, Cowboys and Eagles, the Giants will play the 49ers, Seahawks, Ravens, Bengals and either the Panthers or Saints at home (if the Saints win on Sunday, it'll be them; if they lose and the Panthers win, it'll be Carolina).
On the road, the Giants will face the Cardinals, Rams, Browns, Steelers and Vikings. That's likely two potential bad-weather games away from home, so take note, Eli.
From the locker room today, Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs both worked (Plax was limited, Jacobs was not) and both expect to play on Saturday. Eli expects to play a full game, though I doubt that'll happen -- not because of any plan, just because I don't think the game will be close enough to warrant it by the end.
Nice to see David Tyree back in the locker room after missing two weeks due to the death of his mother.
Had a funny chat with Lawrence Tynes, whose heart was in his throat when Jeff Feagles lay face down on the Ralph Wilson Stadium turf after Donte Whitner crashed head-first into Feagles' left thigh.
Tynes is the emergency punter, and he's done it twice in a game between college and the pros. His collegiate punt at Troy was a left-footed, 33-yarder that was about to be blocked (it's why he switched to the left foot) and he put it out of bounds at the opposing 3.
With the Chiefs, he took a direct snap from a field-goal formation and dropped a punt out of bounds inside the 1. "I'm never doing it again," he said. "I mean, I can never do better than those."
The biggest problem with Feagles' potential injury? He's the field-goal holder and the only other holder Tynes has worked with is Jared Lorenzen, who is the emergency QB. Which means he can't enter the game unless the starting QB is out. So Anthony Wright would have held for Tynes, and the two have never worked together.
Something perhaps for special teams coordinator Tom Quinn to take note of.
Feagles did say today he was in pain, and he certainly got crunched by Whitner. He's still sore, but he punted during practice today and seemed OK.
"I was down there so long because my career was flashing before my eyes," Feagles said. After 20 seasons, there were a lot of flashes, I guess.
OK, I'm off tomorrow, but if Erik Boland has any news, it'll find its way to you.
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Comments (3)
Nothing about the NFL letting both CBS and NBC pick up the game? Now there is absolutely no way that the Giants can play this like a preseason game - they'd get embarrassed on three networks, nationwide. This is going to be one of the highest rated NFL games ever - I'm betting the highest combined rating for a regular season game in the history of the NFL. The Giants better play like it.
Our defense has been preparing for this game for the past few weeks now.
Here's the script:
First two Patriots possessions result in two Touch Downs - Brady to Moss. Records broken - hooray!
For the rest of the game the Patriots can only manage a few Field Goals.
The bad news is our offensive offense. Managed by the inept Kevin Killdrive.
Here's some excerpts from Kevin's playbook:
"Everyone go long and try to get open. Eli throws it to Plax."
Result: Plax is double covered and due to his sore ankle has no verticle leap. Pass batted down.
"Everyone fake long and do a button hook. Eli throws it to Plax."
Result: Plax is triple covered. Pass incomplete.
"Everyone fake the botton hook and go long and try to get open. Eli throws it to Plax."
Result: See "everyone go long" above.
You can't make this stuff up.
Playing our starters for most of the game isn't a good idea no matter the score. Maybe the 1st half, that's it.