Back Off Folks, Eli Manning’s Deal Based on Future Performance

Yes, the contract extension the Giants gave QB Eli Manning yesterday can make him the highest paid player in the NFL. Emphasis on CAN.

Only $35 million of the $97 million is guaranteed. That means Eli just signed an incentive-laden deal.  This is not a reward. He cannot just sit back on his laurels as many athletes in other sports do after inking big deals.

He still has to go out and EARN IT.

If he doesn’t, he will not see the back end of that contract. Trust me. If he goes south, the Giants will stop payment on the majority of the deal by cutting him.

The Giants are not dumb. Franchise QBs are the perhaps the hardest element to obtain when assembling a football team. They had one in their fold, and they decided to keep him.

As for the terms, it just so happens it was his turn to get paid. The Giants went high. The market will catch up very soon, just watch. Next season it will be someone else’s turn to get lambasted for signing such a deal.

So back off the “highest-paid player” thing. If he doesn’t perform, he’s out.

This is still New York.

As for him not being deserving, you gotta be high. How many QBs have led their team to the playoffs the past four seasons?

Only one. Eli Manning. Isn’t winning what counts?

So, please go back to to nether regions from whence you came and stop lame Eli-bashing. He’s been successful and will continue to be successful.

And now he will be richer for it. Don’t get jealous because either you hate the Giants or Manning.

Go get your own QB and have him take you places, then you can pay him like the Giants just paid theirs…

John Fennelly is the publisher / founder of blogNYG.com —the fastest-growing, fan-based blog in New York sports.

New York Giants’ Secondary Is Primary Unit

Phillips, Ross Lead Studly Unit

Sometimes the best stories are not the most obvious, or the most glamorous. 

In camp this month, the Giants will be showing the NFL community how they back-filled the reduction of Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Derrick Ward, and Steve Spagnoulo. Those have been the bones of contention from every blogger, reporter, and fan who breathes Giant blue.

What you may not hear a lot about is the young, athletic, hard-hitting, playmaking secondary that GM Jerry Reese and his staff have assembled.

Well, let me the one to enlighten you.

The Giants have chosen a defensive back with their top selection three of the past five seasons. Those players are CB Corey Webster (2005 from LSU), CB Aaron Ross (2007 from Texas), and S Kenny Phillips (2008 from Miami).

Those three players, along with 2007 seventh-round selection, S Michael Johnson of Arizona, combine to form the Giants’ starting secondary.

Phillips and Ross are the crown jewels, and are coming into their own very quickly.  Johnson and Webster made major contributions during the Giants’ 2007 Super Bowl championship run. It was Webster, by the way, who caught Brett Favre’s last pass as a Packer, when he intercepted Favre in overtime of the NFC Championship Game.

 

Kenny Phillips

Phillips arrived at Giants’ camp last year very green, kind of thin but full of promise. He showed his knack for seeking out the ball and immediately raised eyebrows with his ability.

He had been compared to another Miami safety, the late Sean Taylor, and the Giants felt he could blossom into the player Taylor had become with Washington before his untimely death in 2007.

By November, Phillips became entrenched as a starter at safety, a position he most likely will not relinquish for many years.

This season, Phillips comes to camp as a starter. He’s a little thicker, having packed on some muscle, and he’s much more the wiser. Receivers will be in for a surprise when they are met by the 6’2″, 210-pound, second-year star.

 

Michael Johnson

The third-year man out of Arizona has not missed a game since joining the team in 2007. At 6’2″ and 207 pounds, he is almost a carbon copy of Phillips in the secondary. He has excellent cover skills and can make plays in the box, including sacking the quarterback.

Johnson was a real find for the Giants. He made an immediate impact as a rookie and has been improving steadily over time. Johnson enjoyed a baptism by fire, having played in five postseason games already in his young career.

 

Aaron Ross

When it comes to athletes, there are as few as talented as Aaron Ross. The former Longhorn has also benefited from playing in five postseason contests. 

Ross has also steadily improved and has shown good field sense with a nose for the ball. His track-and-field background makes him a potentially great vertical cover corner.  I don’t use the term “shutdown” corner, by the way. There have only been a few of those in my lifetime.

 

Corey Webster

The LSU star took a bit longer to mature, but he’s arrived now and has taken his rightful place in the Giants’ defensive backfield. Webster has become a “sticky” corner, showing ability to run stride-for-stride with some of the league’s best wideouts.

Webster benefited from his time sitting behind the likes of veterans Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters, and Will Allen. He’s the veteran, now.

 

Others

At safety, the Giants have only two others in camp. They signed the Texans’ C.C. Brown, a four-year starter in Houston, and Sha’reff Rashad, a rookie out of Central Florida.

It is at CB where they are exhibiting the most talent and depth. Kevin Dockery and Terrell Thomas return as the primary backups. The rest of the group includes four rookies: DeAndre Wright, Stoney Woodson, Bruce Johnson, and Vince Anderson.

Anderson and Travonti Johnson are both 6’2″ and may end up as backup safeties or on special teams.

 

Calm Down Giant Fans, Camp Is Finally Here

As we embark on another training camp, speculation and anticipation have enveloped Giants’ fans in a frenetic fog.

Here are some answers to the questions that have vexed the faithful the past few weeks.

Stop worrying about the passing game.

Two things that work in the Giants favor:

1. They lost Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer but they back filled their spots with younger, faster athletes. Hakeem Nicks,don’t worry, he’ll be signed by camp, is very Michael Irvin-like. Last time I checked, Irvin had a bust in Canton.

When was the last time Steve Smith dropped a pass? Domenik Hixon is a tough receiver. David Tyree is as clutch as they come, and yes I can prove that.

If Mario Manningham stayed all four years at Michigan, where would he have been drafted this year? Uh, the first round…probably ahead of Jeremy Maclin, who the Eagles are gloating over.

Ramses Bardenis big, strong and fast. And he can catch! Travis Beckum is another big kid that will cause match-up problems. That leaves Sinorice Moss, who when healthy can be a deep threat.

2. The Timex Performance Center. The five full-length fields finally allow Eli Manning to throw routes more than 30 yards in practice. The old bubble was restricting the team’s ability to work on the timing and accuracy of deep passes. This will turn Manning into a better passer and help the Giants spread defenses more effectively.

Stop worrying about the linebackers.

The word is that Antonio Pierce is in hot water over his role in the Plaxico thing. That is true, but the DA needs to put pressure on him in order to pin down Burress. This will all be behind us soon…

Michael Boley‘s injury is troubling, but it opens the door for the much improved second-year LB Bryan Kehl and gives Gerris Wilkinson one more shot to show what he’s got.

There is nothing wrong with veterans Danny Clark and Chase Blackburn. These guys are pretty damn good pro players. Plus the emergence of rookie Clint Sintum will quell the fears of all Giant fans. The kid is good.

Stop worrying about Eli.

As stated, he’s going to be sharper now that he can air it out every day. His confidence level will rise and he’ll become a Peyton-like leader. There are only a handful of players that have tenure over him now. He will step up in 2009.

Now, sit back, take a Xanex and enjoy the pre-season.

 

John Fennelly is the founder/publisher of blogNYG.com, the fastest-growing fan-based blog in New York sports.

Manhattan D.A.: Plaxico Will Do Time

Outgoing D.A. Morgenthau Holding the Line On Jail Time; Pierce Still On Hook

One day after we reported on a rumor that the New York Giants were considering bringing back embattled WR Plaxico Burress, the man who holds Burress’ fate in his hands spoke out.

Manhattan D.A. Robert Morgenthau, who is in his final months in the big office in Foley Square after 34 years, apparently has not softened his stance in the gun-possession case against Burress.

It was not what Burress’ attorney, Ben Brafman (pictured) wanted to hear, saying he was “bitterly disappointed” but vowed to fight in court if forced.

Morgenthau, who will turn 90 this week, told the New York Post that “We’ve always taken the position that he’s going to have to go to jail, whether by trial or by plea,” and would not comment on how his office would treat LB Antonio Pierce, who attended to Burress after Burress shot himself in the leg with an illegal handgun last November. 

Pierce is apparently still very much in the soup in this case. Morgenthau would not elaborate on what role Pierce would play in the case. It is very possible that he may end up testifying against Burress to evade prosecution himself.

Morganthau intimated that his office had never backed off jail time for Burress and never officially cleared Pierce, who possessed the illegal gun himself after the shooting.

His office wants Burress to plea to a lesser gun charge and do at least two years in state prison. Burress’ lawyer has suggested no jail time since he was also the victim of the shooting.  The results of the grand jury’s vote will be made public in late August, which may not bode well for Burress or Pierce.

This should end any and all speculation about Plaxico’s return to the NFL and/or the Giants. The Giants can go about their business, now.

Morgenthau was the model for the old D.A. Adam Schiff (played by Steven Hill) in the early days of the television drama Law and Order. He has always been tough, but fair.  In the final months of his illustrious law career, you can expect “Morgy” to stick to his guns.

NFC East Stock Watch: Giants Gaining On Eagles

Look Out, Philly, The Champs Are Coming Fast

The Philadelphia Eagles had a great draft and spectacular offseason which cannot be denied. The New York Giants had a rocky one. That is the general consensus.

Believe it or not, regardless of my efforts, the Eagles’ beat writers and bloggers have the Eagles winning the Super Bowl hands down—smushing the Giants and all comers without a fight.

That was April. It’s almost August now. Let’s put some perspective and facts to this…

The Oddsmakers Favor The Giants

In a consensus of two dozen Internet gambling sites, the Giants are 7 to 4 to win the division. The Eagles are 2 to 1, the Cowboys 2.5 to 1 and the Redskins are 5 to 1.

It is close between the top three teams. If one were to use the axiom ‘put your money where your mouth is”, the Eagles are just another team in the mix for the division – not the prohibitive favorite Eagles backers would have you believe with all their stumping since the spring.

 

DC Roulette – Jim Johnson is Gone

Both the Giants and the Eagles will have new Defensive Coordinators. The Giants promoted linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to DC after Steve Spagnuolo accepted the head coaching job in St. Louis.

The Eagles promoted Sean McDermott, a long-serving defensive assistant to DC this week.  McDermott takes over for the ailing Jim Johnson, who is sadly battling cancer.

These developments may change the dynamic of the rivalry.  Johnson and Spagnuolo were known for the pressure they bring on the quarterback.  Will the philosophies change now that both are gone?  Stay tuned.

 

Osi Umenyiora – The Eagle Killer Returns

He’s baaaaack!  Remember how much trouble Osi brought to the Eagles’ blocking scheme?  Well, after missing all of 2008 with an injury, Osi is back and in top form according to sources.

That means trouble for the Eagles, who will now have to choose which Giants DE to double cover—Osi or All-Pro Justin Tuck.  Good luck with that one, Marty Mornhinweg.

 

The Giants’ Wide Receiver Corps

No one knows what this motley group is going to shape up to be.  New faces all over the place, and not one that gives any defense nightmares – yet.

The Giants’ top pick—Hakeem Nicks—reminds people of Michael Irvin.  Domenik Hixon is a tough, reliable receiver.  Ramses Barden, a 6’6″ rookie is built like an NBA power forward, and as nimble.  Steve Smith and David Tyree make big catches in big spots. 

Sinorice Moss, when healthy, dazzles.  Mario Maningham was a first-round pick in-waiting before he decided to enter the NFL Draft as a junior in 2008.

Suddenly, there is news that the Giants are considering bringing back Plaxico Burress should he be cleared to play in 2009.

That would scare some people. Especially Philadelphia, who had problems defending him in the past.  They also lost their most physical defender – Brian Dawkins – to free agency this past off-season.

All of these factors are working against the Eagles. Their advantages over the Giants, whatever they were, seem to be disappearing one by one.

John Fennelly is the publisher/founder of blogNYG.com, the fastest-growing fan-based blog in New York sports.

Sunday Roundable: NY Giants May Re-Sign Plaxico Burress

Quick Hits: Burress Could Return to Giants

****YaHoo is reporting that there are rumors that Plaxico Burress may end up right back with the Giants after his legal ordeal is over.

That made no sense a few months ago, but now as some grass has grown under this, it makes a lot of sense. Burress may not fit anywhere else in the league. He and the Giants have a relationship that can be easily repaired if he meets them 75 percent of the way.

Burress’ attorney, Ben Brafman, played this one beautifully it seems. By delaying court action, the urge to throw the book at Plaxico has waned over time, and that may continue to wane should the Giants be serious about reclaiming his services.

With the city and state in a political jackpot these days, Burress’ case is no longer in the center of the ring. Brafman will continue to whittle away at any proposed jail time, which may result in a plea deal that could put Plax back on the field this fall.

****The new rail link to the Meadowlands is a success. That is good news for both the Jets and Giants and concert-goers. The link is accessible from Secaucus Junction which is the hub for all points north and east such as Hoboken and New York City as well as other parts of the state including the Jersey Shore.

This will alleviate the impossible traffic situation in the area. NJ Transit has estimated that tens of thousands may use the rail on game days, which will enhance the quality of every one’s life in Bergen County.

****Training camp begins in one week. The Giants are still hedging on whether this will be their swan song at the University of Albany. John Mara has been intimating that the new Timex Performance Center at the Meadowlands could easily be used for camp as well. Logistically, it would be better for all—and much more inexpensive.

****It is being rumored that Michael Boley may miss as many as four games this season due to his recent hip surgery. Boley will miss the first game due to a one-suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. After that, it’s cloudy when he’ll be ready to play.

In the interim, second-year LB Bryan Kehl will get first crack at the open spot. Gerris Wilkinson is also being considered, but his lack of physicalness has the team looking elsewhere for answers.

John Fennelly is the publisher/founder of blogNYG.com, the fastest-growing fan-based blog in New York sports.

Michael Vick: 21st Century Pariah

Acceptance and Redemption for Grid Star Could Take Years

Michael Vick has completed serving his sentence and his debt to society.

When his epitaph is being carved, that, unfortunately for him, may go down as the easiest part of his life.

He now has to attempt to re-acclimate back into that society, which is still nowhere near ready to accept him back unconditionally.

Vick’s crimes were blatant, bloody, and sensational but they were not of mass-murderer status.  They were not punishable by long prison terms. He pleaded guilty and did his time. But there are worst things than prison, sometimes.

People may forgive, but in this culture of excessive media, they are never allowed to forget.  Take Michael Jackson, for instance. A week before his death, critics slammed his comeback effort and most of society treated hm like a leper. He was sickly and in debt and nearly pushed off the grid.

When he died, he was suddenly the greatest of all time. The tides had turned because the book was now closed. The media drilled it into you, you had no choice but to submit.

In Vick’s case, the media will work against him. Much like O.J. Simpson, Vick will walk the Earth with a huge cloud hovering over him. One that may erode with time, but that time frame is uncertain.

Michael Dwayne Vick will live the rest of his life unable to rid himself of the blemish, the stigma and the constant reminders of his crimes. Between the media, animal rights groups, and the corporatism of sports, Vick’s chances of shedding his skin are not very promising.

Why?

It is the 21st century.  It is a time in history where everyone is given a second chance. Everyone, that is, who seeks redemption honestly.

Even though Vick has paid heavily for his crimes it still seems there is more penance due. The recent temperature that was taken in regards to his return was that of arctic levels.  Many do not believe that he is sorry for his crimes. The only thing he’s sorry about is getting caught.

His annual income from football, endorsements, and other entrepreneurial ventures had crested at $25 million per year at the time of his arrest. That alone speaks volumes in terms of the price he’s paid.

Most people cannot empathize with that. To them, he’s a rich guy who blew it. Others will cite that he is just another sports celebrity flouting the laws and norms of society.

Others do not believe that he emerged from this a changed man. Many people and groups have stated that for someone to indulge in crimes such as dogfighting and animal cruelty there is a flaw in their character—one that cannot be changed.

Former Colts’ coach Tony Dungy recently visited Vick in prison. He was convinced that Vick had changed his ways. Dungy may be the most honest man alive. He is also a very religious and forgiving man.

Society is not full of many Tony Dungys.

Even if the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, decides that Vick can return as a player, who will stick their neck out and sign him?

Any team that signs him runs the risk of having advertisers pull their accounts. In this economy, no one could afford that.  They would rather just take a pass. 

Signing Vick as a backup just brings the heat. Why would anyone run the risks for a player you will get little benefit from, anyway?

That does bode well for Vick. You can pretty much flesh out in your mind the places he would not be welcome.  The liberal bastions of America—New York and Southern California—are out; he can’t return to Atlanta and Dallas is in need of every dollar they can get with the new stadium opening. 

The only places he could land up would be ones that are either absolutely clueless or desperate.  The way the NFL ebbs and flows that changes from year to year.

Michael Vick will have to wait for a chance at redemption, it appears. Like some Twilight Zone episode, he will suddenly feel his irrelevancy through the stillness of his phone.

Perhaps, by then, he’ll have changed.

New York Giants: This Week’s Five “Dumb” Questions

Answering Your Questions As Always…

I always say the dumb questions are usually the ones that few people can answer. For some reason I keep getting asked them

 

Question: When does camp start, July 25 or Aug. 2?

Camp begins on Aug. 2.

 

Question: Have the Giants signed all of their draft choices?

No. First round pick Hakeem Nicks and second rounders Clint Sintim and William Beatty have yet to come to terms.

 

Question: Are there any Giants’ season tickets still available?

For this season, no. You can go to the Giants Ticket Exchange on their web site and purchase tickets directly from a season-ticket holder or go to a secondary ticket site and buy from a licensed ticket broker. Needless to say, you will—in most cases—pay above face value.

 

Question: I read that the Giants have not yet sold out all of their season tickets for next season when they move into the new stadium. Is this true?

Yes it is, but please be aware that these openings are in the club level and other high-priced areas of the stadium. On the seats that remain open, the minimum PSL is $7500 per ticket and the face-value prices on those seats range from $250 to $750 per game.

 

Question: How close is that new rail service to The Meadowlands from being completed?

Funny you should ask. The rail link is being tested this week and if all goes well will be in operation for a soccer event this weekend. According to NJ Transit, trains will operate between Hoboken Terminal, Secaucus Junction, and Meadowlands Sports Complex stations approximately every 10 to 20 minutes beginning three-and-one-half hours before and up to two hours after events. There will also be train service from NY Penn Station to Secaucus Junction.

NFC 2009: All’s Quiet on the Eastern Front

The NFC East is regarded by many as the best division in the NFL, which leads to higher expectations and a magnified pressure to win.

Each team has its exclusive set of issues, all of which become nationally known because these teams reside in large markets: New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Dallas.

Professional football is a major part of the culture in these cities, and media attention has been ramped up to smothering levels in recent years.

The division has become a contest of one-upmanship, as the teams leave no stone unturned in attempting to improve their lots. As a result, there are always questions of motive when it comes to acquiring or drafting players. Those motives are usually smoke-screened through patronizing pressers and interviews.

Today’s GMs and head coaches have mastered the politician’s art of saying plenty while saying very little in the same sentence.

Lately, it’s the offseason that has piqued the interest of fans. It’s beginning to surpass the actual season itself. The four NFC East franchises are all playing it close to vest when it comes to divulging and sharing information. The four entities are operating in bunkers, it seems, including the Cowboys.

Intelligence has become the most coveted commodity.

So, when somebody comes across a morsel of information that has not been covered by the mainstream media, that morsel makes the rounds in the media’s secondary market—blogs and social media.

That’s where things can get blown way out of proportion. Bloggers have a tendency to overlook facts and replace them with conjecture. Everyone is online these days, and sometimes you can’t tell if you’re reading a 15-year-old’s blog or an accredited member of the media’s posts.

These teams and their fans can’t make that determination either, since the presentation of many fan-based sites are so well-produced they appear to be mainstream on the surface.

When someone from Bleacher Report or Yardbarker posts an opinion as if it were a fact, the rumors begin to circulate exponentially. Readers assume the writer has factual knowledge.

Much of this confusion has led most professional teams to declare martial law on web-only publications over the years, limiting or denying access to them while narrowing the scope and truncating the information they themselves release to the public.

If you’re an outsider, now you can only connect the dots you are allowed to see; whereas, the accredited media gets to see almost all the dots. That being said, you would think their articles would outshine those of bloggers. You would think.

So, here we are on the apron of what promises to be another season of discomfort in the NFC East. And, here we are looking into the widening chasm of rumors, facts, and and innuendo, attempting to disseminate the truths from the lies while laboring to wade through the mis- and disinformation being spun about our four clubs.

Maybe, I’ll just get back to basics and go out and get the stories this year. How novel—a writer going out into the field looking for a story. Don’t laugh, I’ve heard this approach was successful back in the last century.

Almost Famous: My Take on the CBS NFL Correspondent Search

14 Bleacher Report Writers Hired by CBS Sports to Cover the NFL

After a long 69 days, white smoke could finally be seen above CBS Sports headquarters.

CBS Sports had finally made their decisions for the 32 open NFL Correspondent positions.

The ‘contest’, which was scheduled to be wrapped up by June 30, went an additional 14 days due to the excessive number of applicants. In the end, 14 Bleacher Report writers were selected to cover NFL teams for CBS Sports.

That number may seem low to some, but the reality is that CBS was looking for correspondents, not just writers. Bleacher Report has many writers and “columnists”, but how many of those can perform a beat writer job? It takes a completely different skill set and mindset.

Let me say that B/R put their best foot forward during this search and went to bat for many of the candidates they felt were deserving. They reciprocated the loyalty that many writers have shown to them over time. 

If any writer that feels slighted has an issue with the selection process or its outcome, the party that should be approached is CBS, not B/R.

CBS was the one holding the cards, B/R was just dealing them.

They had very little hand in the process after they made their recommendations. You must not hold them accountable for any wrongdoings you may feel transpired over the past two-and-a-half months.

The only issue I have with B/R is the fact that the names of the winners and the finalists have not been announced.  I know that will happen in the coming days, but in order to add closure to this so we can all move on, I hope they do this sooner rather than later.

For those of you who feel you have been wronged, you need to look past this.  In the beginning, I felt a bit uneasy about the way things were going, but after I thought it through, I came to the realization that I may not be the best candidate for the position I applied for after all. It probably went to a young, hungry turk looking for a break. I can live with that.

These jobs are reporting jobs, not really writing jobs.

They are granular, tedious, and time-consuming and many times—not very rewarding. Most B/R writers would have hated themselves for taking these jobs, had they gotten them. Like I said, it takes a different skill set to do this job and not many have the chops for it.

For instance, CBS doesn’t really care about your opinion or your writing style. Your job is to convey the breaking news to them in legible form on your Blackberry so they can reformat it for public consumption. That’s what beat reporters and editors do.

They don’t care if you think Tom Brady is better than the Manning brothers, just tell us who he’s throwing to in practice, if he’s wearing a brace on his knee, and what he said afterwards.

You’ve been relegated to reporting facts, so your personality has to stay in your back pocket.

After being a VP in a Fortune 500 company for years, did I really want to go back to the wheel as a beat reporter?  At 48, I would think my boot-licking days are behind me. But I threw my hat in the ring and I know that CBS took a long look at that hat.

Frankly, I’m a bit relieved that they passed on me. The job pays $400 per week. I used to make $500 a day. Plus my strength is as a columnist, not a stringer.  I can write about the Giants for the next six months without the heavy hand of CBS on my shoulder, plus work part-time as a consultant (making more than $400, I assure you that).

So I will chalk this competition up as another blessing in my life. I appreciate the B/R brass for recommending me and CBS for considering me. I can now continue to contribute my inane rhetoric to B/R and other sites with impunity.

Thanks for reading, and congratulations to all the applicants who were considered and selected. I urge you all to resume the pursuit of your writing careers and to continue to do so by posting on B/R.

For those that really wanted to be a beat reporter and were not chosen, hang in there. Your time is coming. Your stuff got read by pros, you should find some solace in that.

I propose we expand on Leroy Watson’s idea of a mentoring program. Everyone has plenty of room to improve as a writer. The learning process never ends.

So the next time an opportunity comes around, you’ll be more prepared. My motto is, “Never give up. If you do, then the bad guys win.”

 

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