Coughlin Deserves This

Source: GMEN HQ by georgemaurer

According to reports in various media outlets, the New York Giants are expected to give Tom Coughlin an extension in the near future. As a long-time “Coughlin doubter,” I am finally on board.

Just to be silly for a moment, I think the Giants … [visit site to read more]

Coughlin Deserves This - GMEN HQ - GMEN HQ - A NY Giants Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

New York Giants' 5 Best and Worst Moves of the 2012 Offseason

Source: Bleacher Report

The New York Giants were quick to work on their defense this offseason. Jerry Reese and his staff have made some good moves to keep the possibility of winning a third Super Bowl in six seasons a possibility, but there have also been some questionable decisions along the way.

This slideshow will highlight the best and worst moves the Giants have made this offseason. 

Some of the "bad" moves will be ones that the Giants could not control. Sometimes re-signing a player is not feasible.

There have been more good moves than bad, but this article will highlight an equal number for both. I would take the "best" slides as more heavily weighted than the "worst."

Begin Slideshow

New York Giants: David Wilson Will Be the NFL's Most Explosive Rookie in 2012

Source: Bleacher Report

"Explosive" is the word that aptly describes former Virginia Tech running back and New York Giants first-round draft selection David Wilson, a 5'10", 206-pound blur that can change the game with one play because of his rare blend of speed, balance and power.

Wilson comes to the Giants as a replacement for running back Brandon Jacobs, who left for the San Francisco 49ers. Jacobs was a bulldozing running back that had the size of a linebacker and deceptive speed, an ideal complement to teammate Ahmad Bradshaw.

Bradshaw is a smaller back that has some home-run ability (even though injuries have robbed him of some speed) and quick feet that enable him to bounce from hole to hole in hopes of springing free into the open field. But with Jacobs gone, there are concerns about the team's running back stable, even with recently drafted Wilson at the helm.

When the team selected Wilson in the first round, many questioned the pick. Who is David Wilson? How would he replace Jacobs? Can he be the team's goal-line back? Why are they selecting a running back so high after having success finding them late?

The Virginia Tech product doesn't seem to be the ideal replacement for Jacobs considering his stature, but as the old saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover.

Wilson was one of the most productive running backs in the country last year, rushing for over 1,700 yards—much of which came after contact. In fact, according to STATS X-info, 990 of his yards came after contact, by far the most of all collegiate running backs in the draft and over 260 more than top-five pick Trent Richardson.

This shows that his smaller stature is a natural advantage as he's built lower to the ground, thus he is the lower man at the point of attack which gives him the leverage advantage. Consequently, his lower body strength enables him to run with power and there were numerous plays this past season that displayed it.

An instance of this lower body strength came against the Miami Hurricanes this past season. After taking a hand-off to the right, Wilson encountered a Hurricanes defensive back who attempted to bring him down by the shoulders, a poorly formed tackle.

However, even though it was bad form by the defensive back, the defender appeared to possess good strength and nearly brought down Wilson. It appeared that Wilson was going to be brought down, except he shrugged off the defender with his strong upper body and displayed extraordinary balance to stay on his feet and continue running down the sideline.

Wilson was one of the top-rated running backs in the 2012 NFL draft and the No. 2 back on the Giants' draft board because of his physical gifts. He has rare balance, a characteristic trait that's arguably the most important at the position. He constantly stays on his feet despite contact, as noted earlier, because of this. 

Furthermore, he has very good stop and start ability, showcasing the quickness to make defenders miss by making knifing cuts to get downhill. At times, he makes too many cuts which leads to him losing crucial yardage, but other times it pays off as seen against Clemson.

In what might be the most impressive run of the 2011-12 NCAA season, Wilson covered a significant amount of yards after making multiple defenders miss on a hand-off to the left. After getting the hand-off, Wilson looked to turn up-field, but Clemson defenders swarmed and cut him off, which forced him to cut back at the last second and run right.

As he ran right, he looked to turn up the field before being cut off once again by five Clemson defenders, leading him to make the defenders miss once again and running right.

When he got to the far right, a Clemson defender nearly tackled him. He wrapped him up and appeared to have brought him down, but Wilson's lower body strength prevailed as he was able to spin out of the tackle.

After spinning out of the tackle, Wilson displayed his great balance and stayed on his feet before turning back to the left and outrunning the Clemson defense for a first down.

This was merely one play in Wilson's career, but it wasn't the only one. He's had numerous big plays in his career that could lead to one saying he's a human highlight reel. He has the ability to do it all, running the ball as well as catching it and returning it on special teams, as he's simply a "pure football player," to quote Giants GM Jerry Reese.

Wilson's explosiveness is a big addition to the team because they lacked it. According to Zach Berman of The New York Times, the Giants' longest running play last season was 37 yards while Wilson's was 57 yards. Not to mention, Wilson had runs of 20 or more yards in 11 of the 14 games he played for the Virginia Tech Hokies last season.

Because of his dangerous open-field ability, Reese stated that Wilson will play special teams, which he did at Virginia Tech. He played as a gunner on special teams, as well as effectively returned kicks.

Wilson had over 1,300 yards in returns in his three years in college, including two special teams touchdowns. Both returns for touchdowns were 90 yards or longer, including a 90-yard game-winner against rival Georgia Tech.

The return showcased his good, long speed, which he proved he had at the combine by running a 4.49 40-yard dash, and his outstanding acceleration, which is visible not only on this return, but when he's given the ball in the backfield. Wilson is fast through the hole, not to the hole as many other rookie tailbacks are, which is the way coaches teach it.

Picking at the bottom of the first round for the second time in only a few years, the Giants selected Wilson, a surprise to many. Draft pundits billed it as a reactionary pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' trade-up for Boise State's Doug Martin, but Reese squashed those rumors by saying Wilson was the second-best back on their board and for good reason.

Wilson is exceptional in some of the most crucial traits for running backs, such as balance and yards after contact. His blend of balance, speed and power gives the Giants a unique skill set that enables them to use him in different areas of the game, which will lead to him becoming the most explosive rookie of 2012. He can change the game with a single play, whether it be running the ball, catching it or returning it.

Get your popcorn ready, Giants fans.

Read more New York Giants news on BleacherReport.com

Manning to Speak at Business Seminar

Source: Giants Football Blog by Charles Costello

This is what happens when you win two Super Bowls and two MVP awards, when you’re chosen No. 1 in the draft and actually live up to expectations, when your talent is matched by your ability to lead, and when your popularity is achieved as a result of what you accomplish on the field.

For once, Eli Manning will be making headlines off the field. On May 30 in Hartford, CT, Manning will appear at the XL Center as part of the GET MOTIVATED Seminar. Here’s how event organizers are describing the program:

The GET MOTIVATED Seminar is an action-packed, fun-filled, explosive, exciting, inspiring, skill-building business event that is world famous for its mega-watt superstar speakers and spectacular stage production. This blockbuster one-day seminar will give you proven strategies to sharpen your business skills, ignite your motivation, accelerate your effectiveness and increase your income!

Only the BEST of the BEST appear on our stage! Dazzling pyrotechnics, live music and stunning special effects set the stage for our superstar speakers who deliver riveting presentations packed with cutting-edge skills for success.

Manning will be joined by UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, comedian Bill Cosby, former New York governor Mario Cuomo, and others. Over 15,000 people are expected to attend. Manning’s speech will focus on competitiveness.

Click here for more information.

Taylor’s Ring Goes For $230,041

Source: Giants Gab by Matt Loede

Lawrence Taylor’s ring was officially sold on Saturday night for $230,041. Giants DE Osi Umenyiora tried to get it back for him, but in the end it didn’t work out.

Osi Umenyiora currently has less than 60,000 followers on Twitter. And Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring now has a new owner.

Taylor’s ring was sold by online auctioneer SPC Auctions for $230,041 late Saturday night. The winning bidder was not revealed, but it wasn’t Umenyiora, whose Twitter campaign to purchase the ring and return it to rightful owner Taylor fell well short.

“Good Morning people!” Umenyiora tweeted from his official Twitter account, @osiumenyiora, on Sunday morning. “Well i guess we didnt make it to 500k for LT. But i appreciate the people who tried. #respect# you can now unfollow me”

Umenyiora had hoped to buy the ring and give it back to Taylor. The former Giants pass-rushing great had given his 1991 Super Bowl ring to his son, Lawrence Taylor Jr., as a gift. And the younger Taylor had recently decided to sell the item. The auction began Thursday and closed on Saturday at 10 p.m.

Click HERE to read the Rest

Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring sold for $230K; Osi Umenyiora was not the buyer (Shutdown Corner)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl XXV ring was sold at auction for more than $230,000 to a buyer who wasn't New York Giants star Osi Umenyiora. The Giants defensive end had vowed to buy LT's ring and return it to him if he was able to reach 500,000 followers on Twitter. Umenyiora fell far short of his goal. His account, @osiumenyiora, had just over 55,000 followers by the Saturday night deadline. When Umenyiora saw the final sale price, he tweeted out a good-natured expression of relief. "Yikes! I guess the 450,000 let me off the hook!" Why didn't he buy the ring in the first place? Umenyiora said it was because he didn't know Taylor personally. "If im going to spend that kind of money, it will be because people love him and show it," he tweeted. The ring was put up for auction by Taylor's son, TJ. The Hall of Fame linebacker said he had no prior knowledge of the sale but supported his son's decision. "He's fine with whatever TJ decided," a Taylor rep said in a statement.

LT’s Super Bowl ring sold for $230K, Osi Umenyiora was not the buyer (Shutdown Corner)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl XXV ring was sold at auction for more than $230,000 to a buyer who wasn't New York Giants star Osi Umenyiora. The Giants defensive end had vowed to buy LT's ring and return it to him if he was able to reach 500,000 followers on Twitter. Umenyiora fell far short of his goal. His account, @osiumenyiora, had just over 55,000 followers by the Saturday night deadline. When Umenyiora saw the final sale price, he tweeted out a good-natured expression of relief. "Yikes! I guess the 450,000 let me off the hook!" Why didn't he buy the ring in the first place? Umenyiora said it was because he didn't know Taylor personally. "If im going to spend that kind of money, it will be because people love him and show it," he tweeted. The ring was put up for auction by Taylor's son, TJ. The Hall of Fame linebacker said he had no prior knowledge of the sale but supported his son's decision. "He's fine with whatever TJ decided," a Taylor rep said in a statement. SPC auctions didn't announce the winning name. The high bid was $192,001 and came after a flurry of late-night action. When the buyer's commission was added, the price rose to $230,401.20. That's more than triple the price that the online auctioneer had expected.

Umenyiora's Twitter campaign for LT's Super Bowl ring falls short

Source: The Blue Screen

Osi Umenyiora currently has less than 60,000 followers on Twitter. And Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl XXV ring now has a new owner.  Taylor's ring was sold by online auctioneer SPC Auctions for $230,041 late Saturday night. The winning bidder was not revealed, but it wasn't Umenyiora, whose ...

Auction for Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl XXV ring ends with winning bid of $230,401

Source: NJ.com by Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger

Osi Umenyiora's plan to buy it falls short

LT Super Bowl Ring Sold for $230K

Source: Giants Football Blog by John Fennelly

Giants great Lawrence Taylor’s son – LT Jr. – has sold his father’s Super Bowl XXV ring for a whopping $230,401 on the internet auction site SCPauctions.com.

Taylor said the other day he was initially unaware that his son was selling the ring. It wasn’t until FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer called him to verify the story.

A longtime representative of Taylor told FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer on Friday that the former NFL linebacker had given the championship ring to his son TJ who could do whatever he wanted with it.

“Lawrence was in fact unaware of it but said he gave it to TJ and it’s his right to do what he wants with it. He’s fine with whatever TJ decided,” Mark Lepselter told Glazer.

Giants’ DE Osi Umenyiora pledged to by the ring if his Twitter account eclipsed 1 million followers.

“All L.T, NYG, NFL FANS! If i get 1million followers, i will buy L.T’s ring back and give it to him….The 1,000,000th will give it to him. In person. I’m not joking.”

Osi then changed it to 500K, but fell well short. He only has 53,108 followers as of this posting.

Good Morning people! Well i guess we didnt make it to 500k for LT. But i appreciate the people who tried. #respect# you can now unfollow me

— Osi Umenyiora (@OsiUmenyiora) May 20, 2012

 

The ring does not come with the lead-pipe cinch most memorabilia comes with. It does, however have a letter from LT authenticating that he gave the ring to his son, though….

This ring will be accompanied by two letters of provenance, one signed by Lawrence Taylor acknowledging he gave the ring as a gift to his son Lawrence Taylor, Jr. and a second signed by Lawrence Taylor, Jr. stating that the ring is in fact the authentic 1991 New York Giants Super Bowl XXV ring he received from his father. The ring does not come with a notarized letter as printed in the catalog.

Sunday Open Thread

Source: Big Blue View by Ed Valentine

It is a gorgeous Sunday here in upstate New York. Hopefully, it is just as nice where you are. Not a lot of football to discuss, to be honest.

Here is an open thread for you for the rest of the day. Talk NBA playoffs, the Triple Crown bid by I'll Have Another, NHL playoffs, baseball -- whatever you want in the world of sports.

Oh, and make sure you get outside for a bit and enjoy a beautiful day!

LT's Super Bowl XXV ring sells for $230,401 (National Football Post)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Auction house gets big bucks

Jason Pierre-Paul Named One of NFL’s Most Dominant Non-QBs

Source: Giants Football Blog by Chris Johnson

When the Giants took Jason Pierre-Paul with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 draft, they knew full well what they were getting into.

Having played just one full season of major college football, the South Florida prospect was thought to be a developmental project. Pierre-Paul recorded 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss over 13 games for the Bulls, wreaking havoc on opposing Big East quarterbacks and flying up mock draft boards in the process.

The thought was that Pierre-Paul could eventually channel that otherworldly athletic ability and incessant pass-rushing motor into something positive at the next level. It would take time, effort and plenty of coaching before he could ever justify the Giants’ admittedly risky first-round selection.

“Raw” was the buzzword for the then-6-6, 260-lb end. The post-pick fan reaction wasn’t as much excited as it was downright indifferent, if not skeptical. It was all for good reason: the defensive line, long-held as a cornerstone of Big Blue’s recent success, had no immediate need for a first-round addition, not to mention one who likely wouldn’t contribute in the foreseeable future.

In most cases, a two-year sample size is more than enough time to evaluate a first-round pick. By then, said player has gone through his fair share of rookie hazing, digested the playbook and for the most part acclimated himself to the NFL lifestyle.

To say that Pierre-Paul has justified his first-round selection would be to undersell just how utterly dominant and how massively important he has been for Big Blue. JPP accumulated 85 tackles, 16.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one crucial, potentially season-saving blocked kick in the Giants’ Week 13 win at Dallas, and best of all, a Super Bowl ring.

It was no surprise, then, when NFL.COM named JPP one of the league’s seven most dominant non-quarterbacks. The list also includes Calvin Johnson, Rob Gronkowski, Darrelle Revis, DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen and Justin Smith.

Former NFL Scout Daniel Jeremiah had this to say about JPP:

“Pierre-Paul is the defensive version of Calvin Johnson. His physical size and athletic ability are so off the charts that it is tough to come up with a defensive comparison from the present or the past. His length and ability to corner the edge is similar to Jevon Kearse, but he’s much thicker and stronger. In 2011, JPP was a dominant force with 86 tackles and 16.5 sacks. He creates major matchup problems no matter where he aligns. From the outside, his power is a major issue for offensive tackles, while his quickness gives interior offensive lineman fits. One highly respected NFL defensive line coach believes he’s the best pass rusher to enter the league in the past 10 years.”

His inclusion on the list is hardly a validation of JPP’s talents. By now, Giants fans and—after his defensive POY-worthy 2011 season, most fans—know of his accomplishments, his versatility, his this-big-a-man-should-not-be-able-to-move-this-fast athleticism.

Here’s the scary part: there’s good reason to expect Pierre-Paul to get better. As in, more dominant than last season, when he was virtually unguardable at all times, when no offensive player was safe from the rangy edge rusher.

Jerry Reese said as much after this year’s draft while comparing him to fourth-round pick Adrien Robinson:

“He’s just a big, gigantic man with long arms and he’s a really good athlete,” Reese said of the 6-4, 264-pound player from Cincinnati. “He’s got those freakish athletic numbers. He hasn’t scratched the surface, like Jason Pierre-Paul . . . This kid hasn’t scratched the surface yet. He has a chance to be really something, we think.”

I don’t know how right or wrong Reese is in his assessment of Pierre-Paul’s future. All I know is that it’s been quite a long time since I’ve seen a defensive player with this much talent. Barring injury or an outer space life form stealing his ability to sack quarterbacks, he will continue to be one of the most dominant players in the game. If JPP does have a ceiling, not even his 30.5 inch vertical leap can get him there.

Giants Sunday Theatre: Dec 1, 1985 vs Browns

Source: Giants Football Blog by John Fennelly

1985 was the year the Bill Parcells Giants made their mark on the NFL. The Giants would finish the season 10-6 and win their first division title since 1963, then beat Joe Montana and the 49ers in the Wildcard round only to lose 21-0 to to the eventual Super Bowl champion Bears in the divisionals.

Perhaps the most entertaining game of the 1985 season was in Week 13, when the Giants hosted Bernie Kosar and the Cleveland Browns….enjoy!!!

Lawrence Taylor: How Much Did Giants Legend's Super Bowl Ring Sell For?

Source: Bleacher Report

The news that New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring was being auctioned off brought questions on how much the piece of sports history would go for. We have our answer.

Giants’ insider for the New York Daily News Ralph Vacchiano is reporting on Twitter about the final selling price for the ring:

SOLD! The auction is over and Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl XXV ring went for a whopping $230,401. #NYG

— Ralph Vacchiano (@TheBlueScreen) May 20, 2012

There was no estimated price for the ring, but the seller (LT’s son) has to be happy about the fact that the final price for the piece of history was over $230,000. Not a bad day at the auctions at all!

What It Means

Giants’ defensive end Osi Umenyiora did not buy the ring. After pledging to buy the piece of New York history if he got 500,000 followers on Twitter, the star barley broke the 55,000 follower mark (via Pro Football Talk).

While it’s sad to see a star put himself out there like that only to be ignored, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Maybe he would have gotten more followers if he hadn’t offended half the world with his Mother’s Day tweets.

If Umenyiora didn’t buy the ring, that opens up the next logical question: Who did?

 

What’s Next

The biggest question marks remaining are who bought the ring and what their intentions are now that they paid $230k for it. I love my local team, but I wouldn’t pay that much for a house let alone a Super Bowl ring, but that’s just me.

There is almost no doubt in my mind that this will go into some rich man’s personal toy room where he keeps all the things fans hold dear but can’t afford. While that is likely, I prefer to think that somewhere a man bought this ring to donate it to the Hall of Fame.

If the person that bought the ring for over $230,000 is rich enough to throw that much money around, they can afford to donate the piece of history and use that as a tax write off. I don’t know if that’s legal or not, but rich people do what they want anyway, let’s be honest.

 

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL Page to get your fill of all things football.

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Read more New York Giants news on BleacherReport.com

New York Giants News And Notes: Sunday Reading Material

Source: Big Blue View by Ed Valentine

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Here is a little bit of Sunday morning reading material for you.

Giants' Osi Umenyiora fails in Twitter campaign for L.T.'s ring - NFL.com
New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora fell short of the half-million Twitter followers he said he needed in order to buy the Super Bowl ring of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.

Valentine's View: I thought this was a pretty disingenuous 'offer' by Umenyiora, anyway. If he

Giants Defense: Screen Play Responsibilities

Source: Giants Gab by Jeremy Fuchs

We continue with our breakdown of the Giants playbook. Today? Screen play responsibilities:

It looks like the responsibility falls with the outside backer, whatever side the screen goes to.  The MIKE Backer then follows as additional support, with the safety coming up. The offense will counteract this with the center taking on the outside backer. So this play is really up to the MIKE. Which is not how you would think. When we think of screens,  we think of the outside players, the corners making plays. And that’s true, but the design is for the MIKE Backer. Very interesting. How would you defend screens?

Giants' Markus Kuhn continues to assimilate into a foreign game

Source: NJ.com by Jorge Castillo/The Star-Ledger

While his assimilation to America continues, another transition begins to a new level of American football

Giants' Osi Umenyiora fails in Twitter campaign for L.T.'s ring

Source: NFL.com by NFL.com

New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora fell short of the half-million Twitter followers he said he needed in order to buy the Super Bowl ring of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.

Giants' Osi Umenyiora fails in Twitter challenge for L.T.'s ring

Source: NFL.com by NFL.com

New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora fell short of the half-million Twitter followers he said he needed in order to buy the Super Bowl ring of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.

Tom Coughlin Deserves Extension; Just Not All The Credit

Source: NY Giants Central by jason evans

Tom Coughlin will soon be getting a contract extension from the New York Giants. The extension will be well deserved. Anytime you win two championships in four years you deserve a contract extension and probably a raise.

 

Has everything been peachy and hunky dory throughout Coughlin’s tenure? Of course not. From Coughlin time to spats with guys like Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber to late season collapses and playoff failures. With another super bowl title in the next couple of years, he and Eli Manning can join a rare pantheon of coach quarterback combos with three or more super bowl wins. With every great head coach, comes great help in putting it all together. Coughlin has only had one sub .500 record which was his first year. Coughlin has certainly benefited from that.

 

Having Steve Spagnuolo and now Perry Fewell at defensive coordinator has certainly made an impact. The year in between them with Bill Sheridan was an absolute disaster, where they finished 8-8 and were 30^th in points allowed including a whopping 85 in the final two. Kevin Gilbride has been the offensive coordinator the entire time. As much as the way he calls plays can get frustrating at times, all in all he’s done a pretty good job with the offense especially in the development of Eli Manning. Jerry Reese and Ernie Acorsi did a great job in putting together the team throughout this run. Finding diamonds in the rough is the key to success in the league and finding guys like Ahmad Bradshaw in the 7^th round and Victor Cruz as and undrafted free agent is the key to building teams.

 

Coughlin has done a great job with this club. Clearly the system works and its the right way to go for this particular group of players. Coughlin has softened up as he has gotten older and it’s lead to success for him and his club. Things he’s instituted like the leadership council has provided more stability and a better way to communicate with the players. Coughlin deserves credit for this run, but in order to make it its also about the organization.

 

 

The Score Hears: Hey Rex ... kiss this!  

Source: NY Daily News

For those Giants fans looking to taunt, tease or degrade friends with the trappings of a Super Bowl victory, look no further than the team’s unveiling of a virtual Super Bowl ring.

Osi Umenyiora Makes an Offer to Return Super Bowl Ring to Lawrence Taylor

Source: Bleacher Report

For a guy pining for more money, New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora has waged an intriguing campaign to return Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring to him.

The Giants Hall of Famer’s ring is being auctioned off by his son T.J., who he gave the ring to as a gift. The bidding for the ring is already up to $108,378, with eight hours remaining.

Umenyiora has plans to honor LT by returning the ring to the legendary Giant—with a catch.

Umenyiora has made an offer on his Twitter to all of his followers that, should he be able to reach 500,000 followers—originally set at 1,000,000—by 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, he will purchase the ring and give it back to Taylor. When he has reached that goal, one lucky follower—chosen at random—will have the opportunity to present LT with the ring in person.

 

Deadline is 10pm tonight for the auction for LT'S Ring! Im reducing it to 500,000!!!

— Osi Umenyiora (@OsiUmenyiora) May 19, 2012

 

Again, it will be a Random person who follows that will get to give it back, not the 1,000,000th person that follows

— Osi Umenyiora (@OsiUmenyiora) May 19, 2012

 

 

With around 40,000 followers at the time of this article’s posting, Giants fans have their work cut out for them if they wish to get the ring back in LT’s possession.

So, if you do not already, follow Osi Umenyiora on Twitter and spread the news to your friends. There are only a few hours remaining before LT’s ring lands in the hands of a fanatic with an awful lot of cash to spend on elusive sports memorabilia in this economy.

Read more New York Giants news on BleacherReport.com

Osi's LT Super Twitter offer rings hollow

Source: NY Daily News

Osi Umenyiora wants to help Lawrence Taylor get his bling back. Sort of.

UPDATE: Osi renegotates, lowers Twitter pledge to 500K

Source: True Blue by Art Stapleton

If Osi Umenyiora can get to 500K followers on Twitter today, he has pledged to buy LT's SB ring and return it to the linebacker. Photo credit: Getty Images

UPDATE: Osi Umenyiora tweeted that he has dropped his demands for Twitter followers to 500,000 and should he hit that mark, the Giants’ defensive end will place the highest bid for Lawrence Taylor’s SB25 ring as a return gift for the Hall of Fame linebacker.

As of 12:42 p.m., Umenyiora’s follower count is at 35,827. The SB ring auction has a highest bid of $108,378. The auction is scheduled to end at 10 p.m. today.

XXXXXX 

Osi Umenyiora wants to put an end to the auction involving Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring.

The Giants’ defensive end also wants the sale to end with the ring back in the iconic linebacker’s possession. So Umenyiora has come up with a solution: a bit of a farfetched one to be sure, but Big Blue knows all about long shots coming off of last season.

Umenyiora took to his Twitter account Saturday morning and pledged to purchase Taylor’s ring – which was placed in auction on SCPAuctions.com by Taylor’s son T.J. – if the support was there. A sign of that support, Umenyiora suggested, would be helping him hit 1,000,000 followers by the auction’s end – it is scheduled to be completed at 10 p.m. Saturday.

“I’ve met LT once in my whole life. So, if 1 million people care enough to get him his ring, then i care enough to pay for it,” Umenyiora tweeted Saturday.

Umenyiora is sitting at around 19K followers at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, so he’s got a way to go. Former teammate and current 49er Brandon Jacobs pledged his support as well on Twitter, saying he would match Umenyiora’s gesture if he were to get to 1M followers first.

The auction for Taylor’s ring has received 23 bids with the highest currently at $98,525.

 

Giants' Umenyiora offers to buy back LT's Super Bowl ring

Source: New York Post

Osi Umenyiora promised Saturday to buy back Giants great Lawrence Taylor his Super Bowl XXV ring. The catch -- the Giants defensive end will only bid to win the auction if he lands one million followers on Twitter. Umenyiora put himself forward as an unlikely entrant early Saturday. "All L...

Giants' Umenyiora offers to buy LT's Super Bowl ring if he gets one million followers on Twitter

Source: New York Post

Osi Umenyiora promised Saturday to buy back Giants great Lawrence Taylor his Super Bowl XXV ring. The catch -- the Giants defensive end will only bid to win the auction if he lands one million followers on Twitter. Umenyiora put himself forward as an unlikely entrant early Saturday. "All L...

Weekend mailbag: Beatty faces pressure

Source: NFC East Blog

Welcome to the weekend, and to the weekend mailbag, where I try to round up some of your more interesting questions from the week and answer them the best I can. We shall get right to it. Dave from Brookfield, Conn., would have picked left tackle Will Beatty for the New York Giants' entry in Friday's "Pressure Point" series. I went with Ahmad Bradshaw, as you can see if you click on that link. Dan Graziano: That's a great call, Dave, and probably a better one than Bradshaw.

Umenyiora will buy LT's ring if he gets 1 million Twitter followers (National Football Post)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

But auction ends tonight and Osi isn't close

Umenyiora wants to return Super Bowl ring to L.T.

Source: NFL.com by Sessler, Marc

New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl ring is up for auction, but Osi Umenyiora wants to make sure the prized possession remains with the former linebacker.

Lawrence Taylor Super Bowl Ring Up For Auction

Source: NY Giants Central by jason evans

On the same day the New York Giants Super Bowl rings came out, another Giants super bowl ring went up for auction. The ring of Lawrence Taylor from Super Bowl 25. Taylor’s son put the ring up for auction.

 

Who knows why it was put up? Taylor has had some run ins with the law, with the most recent coming in May 2010 when he was able to strike a deal on to avoid jail time. He might have needed the money to help cover legal fees. The only thing is Lawrence himself didn’t put the ring up for auction. His son, Lawrence Taylor Jr. is the one who put it up and according to various reports, LT senior had no idea that his son was even doing this. One of the best parts about the ring is that it has significant “wear and tear.” I guess that means LT wore it a lot?

 

As of writing this post, the bid for the ring is up over $98k. If you wish to check out the listing or even put a bid on it if you have that kind of change just burning a hole in your pocket click on over here http://catalog.scpauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=20039&searchby=4&searchvalue=981&page=0&sortby=0&displayby=2&lotsperpage=100&category=1&seo=LAWRENCE-TAYLOR

 

I’m sure in the coming days the reason why the ring was put up for auction will come out. That should be an interesting story in and of itself.

Giants Playbook: Passing Zones

Source: Giants Gab by Jeremy Fuchs

This post, I think, will be very informative. When we talk about zone defense, we use it as a very abstract concept. Yeah, zone defense. What does that mean? The Giants’ playbook defines it a lot better than I ever could:

When you combine an understanding of the passing zones with the route tree. Each route is designed to attack a specific zone. By layering combinations, as well as executing good match ups, offenses can make plays in these zones. It is the defenses job to understand the offensive concept, and make sure each zone is properly covered. For the Giants, it means letting smaller plays happen, while preventing bigger plays. Other teams feel differently. There’s no right way. But the Giants believe in defending these zones.  As you’ll see in the coming days, the Giants have a lot of ways to do that.

 

Osi pledges to buy LT’s ring with 1M catch

Source: True Blue by Art Stapleton

Osi Umenyiora has a challenge for Twitter: if he gets to 1M followers, he will buy LT's SB ring and return it to him. Photo credit: Getty Images

Osi Umenyiora wants to put an end to the auction involving Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring.

The Giants’ defensive end also wants the sale to end with the ring back in the iconic linebacker’s possession. So Umenyiora has come up with a solution: a bit of a farfetched one to be sure, but Big Blue knows all about long shots coming off of last season.

Umenyiora took to his Twitter account Saturday morning and pledged to purchase Taylor’s ring – which was placed in auction on SCPAuctions.com by Taylor’s son T.J. – if the support was there. A sign of that support, Umenyiora suggested, would be helping him hit 1,000,000 followers by the auction’s end – it is scheduled to be completed at 10 p.m. Saturday.

“I’ve met LT once in my whole life. So, if 1 million people care enough to get him his ring, then i care enough to pay for it,” Umenyiora tweeted Saturday.

Umenyiora is sitting at around 19K followers at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, so he’s got a way to go. Former teammate and current 49er Brandon Jacobs pledged his support as well on Twitter, saying he would match Umenyiora’s gesture if he were to get to 1M followers first.

The auction for Taylor’s ring has received 23 bids with the highest currently at $98,525.

 

Saturday Morning Shootaround: Jacobs, Coughlin and JPP

Source: Giants Football Blog by John Fennelly

Not much happening today, another stunning weather day here in NYC, btw…here’s a few things that may interest you though….

Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham did not come to New York to collect their SB XLVI championship rings on Wednesday night, opting to stay in the Bay Area to attend a team workout instead (Jacobs’ wife, Kim, picked up the ring in his absence). From Taylor Price of 49ers.com:

“I think my goal here is pretty clear on what I’m trying to achieve as an individual player and as a team,” Jacobs stated.

He will head to the East Coast once this week’s on-field work concludes, but the thought of leaving his new teammates to celebrate with old teammates didn’t make sense in the eyes of the 6-foot-4, 264-pound bruising runner who has two Super Bowl titles, 4,849 career rushing yards and a Giants franchise record of 56 rushing touchdowns under his belt.

“I think winning a championship is important, not many people have one and not many people have had a chance to play in a Super Bowl,” Jacobs said. “I respect that, but right now, I’m working towards the same goal with a new team.”

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Tom Coughlin was wired at rookie minicamp, and for those who have never seen him in action, this clip on the Giants’ website is pure Coughlin. Always teaching, always encouraging. He never stops. When you are around him, you don’t feel like your around the oldest coach in the league – that is for sure.

In the closing team huddle, the coach left his hopefuls with this message in drill sergeant fashion:

“Think before you speak. Treat everyone with respect and dignity. Make no excuse – none whatsoever. And be totally accountable. Good job this morning. Let’s have some legs this afternoon, now! Let’s go – everybody in here. Let’s have a team: 1-2-3…TEAM!”

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I’m not a fan of lists (or any other subjective exercise) but NFL.com lists the seven most dominant non-quarterbacks in the NFL today. Giants’ DE Jason Pierre-Paul made the list. The writer, former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah, sums up JPP quite nicely:

“Pierre-Paul is the defensive version of Calvin Johnson. His physical size and athletic ability are so off the charts that it is tough to come up with a defensive comparison from the present or the past. His length and ability to corner the edge is similar to Jevon Kearse, but he’s much thicker and stronger. In 2011, JPP was a dominant force with 86 tackles and 16.5 sacks. He creates major matchup problems no matter where he aligns. From the outside, his power is a major issue for offensive tackles, while his quickness gives interior offensive lineman fits. One highly respected NFL defensive line coach believes he’s the best pass rusher to enter the league in the past 10 years.”

I read an article by Matt Miller Bleacher Report recently on how to stop JPP. Quite interesting, but hardly anything for Giants fans to worry about.

The first method is to double team him with a TE. That has had some success in the past, but JPP is getting stronger each year and will bust through many of these going forward. Plus, by doubling him leaves Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora in one-on-one situations.

The second method (which teamed with the first could result in a penalty) is to cut-block him. That gets tricky because if the blocker does not time it right, and hits him in the back or below the waist, he will draw a flag.

The third method is basically to reduce JPP’s effectiveness through formations and alignments, or running the play away from him. That will work only if the Giants line him up in the same spot every play. As JPP learns the game more, he will a) read through these and b) line up in different spots on the field.

New York Giants News And Notes: David Wilson Looking To Make Immediate Impact

Source: Big Blue View by Ed Valentine

The NFLPA held its Rookie Premiere event on Friday, and SB Nation was fortunate to have both writers and video people in attendance at the event. Joel Thorman of SBNation.com and Arrowhead Pride passed along some quotes from New York Giants rookies David Wilson, the first-round pick, from Virginia Tech.

Wilson told Thorman that the Giants are looking for immediate help from the rookie running back.

"They took me with their first pick and they want me to contribute right away. I'm

Giants punter knocks Sanchez

Source: New York Post by By PAUL SCHWARTZ

It is rough when the punter — make that the former punter — is wondering about the development of the quarterback. Steve Weatherford, basking in the afterglow this week as he received his Super Bowl XLVI championship ring, questioned the “maturation’’ of Mark Sanchez while speaking on an NFL.com podcast. Weatherford...

Henry Hynoski: The New York Giants FB Is Key to Offense's Success

Source: Bleacher Report

The New York Giants boasted one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses over the course of their run to their victory in Super Bowl XLVI over the New England Patriots.

Should the Giants hope to accomplish much of the same fortune in 2012, especially on offense, their success hinges on the play of their underrated fullback—of all positions—Henry Hynoski.

An army of Giants fans just chuckled reading that. Eli Manning devotees are demanding a retraction of that statement.

However, Manning is a given. The Giants gunslinger is going to lead his teammates as he has since 2004, and the victories will certainly pile up.

But Hynoski is a game-changer, as odd as that may seem, and his presence in a much larger role for the Giants this season will make a dramatic difference on offense.

Last season, the Giants finished dead-last in the NFL in rushing, with an embarrassingly low 89.2 yards per game. The performance was the franchise’s worst during Coach Tom Coughlin’s tenure in New York.

Though his contributions as a lead blocker appeared minimal last season, marred by growing pains and time spent on the injury report, Hynoski’s prowess as a lead blocker is something they sorely missed.

Sideline Scouting had plenty of nice things to say about the former Pittsburgh Panther entering the draft (h/t Ed Valentine of Big Blue View):

Strong blocker, a traditional lead blocker who really packs a punch... Has a great frame for an NFL fullback... Versatility will appeal to teams, is athletic for his size and can contribute as a receiver, runner, and blocker... Improved route runner who has a lot of potential to contribute in the passing game... Has a strong base and has shown the ability to push back defenders at the point of attack... Will be able to contribute on special teams units.

Hynoski showed flashes of brilliance late in the season for the Giants. In the Giants’ final eight games (including the postseason), Hynoski caught 13 passes for 95 yards.

His leaping evasion of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman might be his most memorable play, but his performance in Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots was unquestionably his greatest and most promising effort to date.

It did not light up the box score by any means, though he showed exciting strength and athleticism on each of his two catches out of the backfield. But the job he did opening holes for the Giants rushers, as well as making a game-saving fumble recovery on a ball knocked loose from the grips of Hakeem Nicks, gave Giants fans pleasant memories of Big Blue’s fullback the last time confetti fell in their favor—Madison Hedgecock.

All of this occurred on the field that nearly cost him his NFL career—Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Hynoski’s hamstring injury he suffered at the 2011 NFL Combine did serious damage to the stock of one of the class’ top fullback prospects and sent him free-falling out of the NFL draft—and right into the hands of general manager Jerry Reese and the Giants as an undrafted free agent.

That free fall has delivered the defending Super Bowl champions with a player boasting the talent and potential to be one of the NFL’s premier fullbacks. His abilities are comparable to those of the game’s most versatile fullbacks of all time, such as Tom Rathman and Larry Centers.

The Giants love players with versatile talents, and Hynoski fits the mold. His ability to catch out of the backfield, occasionally carry the football and, most importantly, perform as a lead blocker will provide a much-needed boost to the Giants offensive attack in 2012.

The New York Giants are stocked full of incredible talent on offense that can make an impact at any point in a football game. But none of those players may be able to do so much in so many different ways with as few expectations to do so as the fullback Hynoski can this season for the Giants.

The Giants' pass protection, run blocking and, consequentially, rushing attack will all see an improvement in 2012, and much of that will have to do with blossoming young talent Henry Hynoski.

 

Louis Musto is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more New York Giants news on BleacherReport.com

New York Giants Dynasty? Not so Fast

Source: NY Giants Central by jasonevans

There was a lot of dynasty talk at the ring ceremony for the New York Giants. There hasn’t been a dynasty in the NFL since the early 2000′s when the New England Patriots were winning super bowls. Dynasties are such a hard thing to accomplish in sports. There are just so many variables in sports now especially football where I can’t see a dynastic run happening.

 

Football is a tricky game. There are a lot of things that can happen that can prevent you from winning titles. One injury here or there to a key player. One bad bounce on a kickoff or off a player’s hands and your season is over. Over the past few years, its been about playing your best going into the playoffs. Look at the Giants past two super bowl runs. They went 8-1 to finish the season (including playoffs) both times. The Green Bay Packers won their final six games to win their super bowl two years ago.

 

It seems like in many sports that the hot team going into the playoffs and in the playoffs is the team that’s going to win the championship. Look at the run the Los Angles Kings are on in the stanley cup playoffs. Who would’ve thought they would win 11 out of 12 games? The point is is that you wont see a dynastic run in any of the four major sports for quite a while. The Giants are probably the closest thing to it right now with two in four years but chances are there won’t be one for quite a while.

Taylor Didn’t Even Know His Super Bowl Ring was Up for Auction

Source: Giants Gab by Matt Loede

It turns out that Lawrence Taylor didn’t even know his own Super Bowl ring was up for auction.

If you missed it, Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring went on the auction block on at SCPAuctions.com earlier this week. Now it turns out that it was Taylor’s son was the one that put the ring up for auction.

Jay Glazer of FOXSports spoke with Taylor who didn’t know if was for sale. Taylor says that it was his son that did it, and that he can do whatever he wants with it.

Farley's Friday Football Fodder

Source: Big Blue View by Mike Farley

Happy Friday fellow Giants fans! Sshhhhhhh. If you listen carefully, you can hear the wheels churning in Osi Umenyiora's head as he prepares his next PR stunt. I know one thing. LeSean McCoy could care less, especially after just signing a new 5-year contract extension with the Eagles. So McCoy has something that Osi does not. Of course, besides a big mouth, Osi has two other things that McCoy

Jason Pierre-Paul Named One of NFL’s Most Dominant Non-Quarterbacks

Source: NY Giants Central by Jeff Shull

In a column on NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah lists seven players in a group dubbed “dominant non-quarterbacks.” Among those are Calvin Johnson, Rob Gronkowski, Darrelle Revis, DaMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Justin Smith and New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

The impressive aspect to this story is that Jeremiah polled executives, coaches and scouts around the league and he came up with these seven based on his findings.

Here is what he had to say about the Giants’ Pro Bowler.

Pierre-Paul is the defensive version of Calvin Johnson. His physical size and athletic ability are so off the charts that it is tough to come up with a defensive comparison from the present or the past. His length and ability to corner the edge is similar to Jevon Kearse, but he’s much thicker and stronger. In 2011, JPP was a dominant force with 86 tackles and 16.5 sacks. He creates major matchup problems no matter where he aligns. From the outside, his power is a major issue for offensive tackles, while his quickness gives interior offensive lineman fits. One highly respected NFL defensive line coach believes he’s the best pass rusher to enter the league in the past 10 years.

You won’t find many people who don’t attribute the mere fact the Giants even made the playoffs to JPP’s dominant play in 2011, especially down the stretch. He had a monster game against the Dallas Cowboys in their first meeting, blocking the potential game-tying field goal. JPP forced teams in the playoffs to pay so much attention to him, it allowed Osi Umenyiora to go off with 3.5 sacks in four games.

Those 86 tackles led all defensive lineman, and his 16.5 sacks ranked third. The scary part? JPP hasn’t even come close to reaching his full potential. We could be talking about a future first ballot Hall of Famer here.

 

Jeff is an NFL Featured Columnist for RantSports.com.

Like Jeff’s Facebook page.  

Follow Jeff on Twitter @Jeff_Shull

L.T.’s Ring for Sale

Source: GMEN HQ by Joe Tufaro

The day after the current Super Bowl Champions received their rings at Tiffanys in New York City, the news came out that Lawrence Taylor had put one of his up for auction.  The 1990 ring is the one up for sale.  I would guess that the ’86 ring … [visit site to read more]

L.T.’s Ring for Sale - GMEN HQ - GMEN HQ - A NY Giants Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

Lawrence Taylor's Son Reportedly Sold Super Bowl Ring

Source: Bleacher Report

Lawrence Taylor took a lot of flack for selling his Super Bowl ring, but it turns out that his son, T.J., was in charge of the sale.

It was reported on May 17 that Taylor was auctioning off the ring he earned when his New York Giants narrowly defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV. The auction company in charge of the sale estimates the ring's value at $75,000-$100,000.

The exact circumstances over how and why the ring was put up for sale is unconfirmed, but it is known that Taylor willingly gave away the ring.

Fox Sport's Jay Glazer reported via his Twitter that Taylor was surprised by the news, but supports his son's decision to sell the ring as it was his son's to sell.

LT wasn't aware at all that his son had put it up for auction. However, he had no problem with it bc he feels they are now his sons property

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) May 18, 2012

 

Glazer continued to tweet about the controversial sale, and after speaking with Taylor's agent Mark Lepselter, he reported that Taylor gave both of his championship rings to his son years ago.

The timing of the sale makes the story even more controversial, as the current New York Giants just received their Super Bowl rings for their victory over the New England Patriots in February.

Taylor is no stranger to controversy, but this recent saga is not as cut-and-dry as past events. The reasons for the ring's sale and who profited from it are completely unknown to the public and will likely stay between father and son.

All that is known is that a Super Bowl ring is up for sale, and the Taylor family does not look good because of it.

Read more New York Giants news on BleacherReport.com

UPDATED: Legacy for sale – LT’s SB25 ring up for auction

Source: True Blue by Art Stapleton

Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring is up for auction. Photo credit: scpauctions.com

UPDATED FRIDAY MORNING:

Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring, being auctioned by SCPAuctions.com, was apparently put up for sale not by the Hall of Fame linebacker, but by his son, TJ.

According to a report by Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, the former Giants star was unaware of the auction until he was approached by his longtime agent Mark Lepselter.

In a statement released to Glazer via his Twitter account, Lepselter said: “[Taylor] gave it to TJ and it’s his right to do what he wants with it. He’s fine with whatever TJ decided.”

FROM THURSDAY:

Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl XXV ring is only part of his legacy.

Yet with the iconic linebacker’s latest move Thursday, his decision to put that piece of championship hardware up for auction will undoubtedly in this case strip more from that legacy with the Giants than any dollar figure will add to his wallet.

According to a press release from scpauctions.com, Taylor’s ring is being auctioned off to the highest bidder.

The timing of the auction is certainly curious, considering many of the current Giants collected their Super Bowl XLVI rings at an invitation-only ceremony Wednesday at Tiffany & Co. in Manhattan. 

As of 5 p.m. of 18 bids, the highest is currently $74,022. The estimated value of the ring is $75,000-$100,000. The auction ends Saturday.

The Hall of Famer is one of the franchise’s most decorated players who changed the perception of linebackers in the NFL during a 13-year career that ended in 1994. In recent years, Taylor has gained infamy for his legal trouble – the latest and most damning came in 2010 when he was arrested for having sex with a 16-year-old girl.

Taylor pleaded guilty to misdemeanors of patronizing a prostitute and sexual misconduct; he was sentenced to six years probation in March 2011 and was subsequently registered as a sex offender.

The auction web site lauds Taylor by saying he “epitomized what a football player should be,” calling his second of two Super Bowl rings as a Giant a “phenomenally important memento from one of the greatest football players of all-time.”

The ring itself was presented to Taylor and the Giants following their 1991 triumph in Tampa, Fla. in one of the most emotional Super Bowls of all-time. The game was played during the Gulf War and the Giants ended up with an upset victory over the Bills when Scott Norwood’s potential game-winning kick went wide right on the final play.

John Mara: ‘You Don’t Win the Super Bowl in March’

Source: Giants Football Blog by Charles Costello

I’ve always been an admirer of the New York Giants. The championship years with Bill Parcells took place when I was a young, impressionable kid, and I started to become very aware of what made this a special franchise. It had a lot to do with the front office, led of course by the team’s owner, Wellington Mara. Even in the down years – and there were some down years in the early 90s – the organization’s class always seemed to outweigh any deficiencies that existed on the field. For me, at least.

With another Super Bowl victory under their belt, the Giants once again showed that, as an organization, they understand what it takes to build a championship football team. Last summer, more than any other, proved that. While teams splurged in free agency following the lockout, the Giants seemed to lose players by the day. But GM Jerry Reese had a plan, and if you didn’t think so then, February 5th in Indianapolis should have convinced you that this guy knows what he’s doing.

This is all to say that I read with great interest Peter King’s piece in Sports Illustrated about the Giants’ blueprint for success. No headlines, no hype. It’s all about building a winner. There are some great quotes, stories, and inside information included in the article, but the team’s co-owner, John Mara, sums it up best:

“One of the great things about the way this team operates is how workmanlike Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese are, and how egoless. All they care about is building the best team they can.”

The article explores the Giants’ decision to let tight end Kevin Boss sign with Oakland last summer, a controversial move that ended up working out for Big Blue. Ballard finished with 38 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns in 2011, with a salary of $405,000 to Boss’ $4 million.

“Kevin’s one of the best kids we ever had here,” Mara says. “I wanted him to be a Giant for life. But around here, when the money gets above X, we say goodbye.”

And then there’s this classic story about Tom Coughlin, which says so much about the Giants’ head coach.

Last Thursday, one week before the kickoff of the NFL draft, Giants coach Tom Coughlin stopped by the office of p.r. chief Pat Hanlon at the team’s headquarters in East Rutherford, N.J., before heading back into afternoon draft meetings. Coughlin held a square Styrofoam container with the remnants of his salad inside. While he talked to Hanlon and a visitor, the container fell from his hands, stray seeds and cloudy dressing spilling onto Hanlon’s carpet.

“Look at that!” Coughlin said disgustedly. He turned around to walk to the kitchen to fetch paper towels.

“Tom, we’ll get someone to clean it up!” Hanlon called after him, but it was too late. Thirty seconds later the 65-year-old Coughlin was on his knees, picking up sunflower seeds and carefully wet-wiping and then dry-wiping the dressing. In a minute the carpet was spotless, and Coughlin left for his meeting.

The article describes the Giants as “ego-free, hype-averse, everyone contributing.”

Super Bowl champions. Again.

Steve Weatherford rips Mark Sanchez

Source: ESPN New York

US PresswireSteve Weatherford and Mark Sanchez.Mark Sanchez has received a lot of criticism this offseason, the latest coming from an unlikely source -- the punter. Wait, make that the ex-punter. New York Giant Steve Weatherford, whose 15 minutes of fame have lasted five months, questioned Sanchez's maturity this week during an NFL.com podcast. "I like Mark -- I think he's a very talented quarterback -- but from my standpoint, I haven't seen a lot of maturation," said Weatherford, making the media rounds this week because the Giants received their Super Bowl rings.

Son of former Giants great Lawrence Taylor behind Super Bowl XXV ring auction

Source: NJ.com by Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger

Taylor will allow ring to be sold