Ask a Giants Fan, Part 1

Before we begin this segment, I just want to clear something up. Much is being made of Plaxico Burress' comments regarding the wide receiver matchup in Super Bowl 42. Burress was asked a direct question about how he thought the Giants receivers matched up against the Patriot receivers. Here was his answer:

"We have guys that can go out and do things just as well or maybe better than some of those guys,"

To me, that is a perfectly normal, legitimate, and true answer. Look, he's not going to say "We suck. Randy Moss is god." But, nowhere in his answer does he claim to be better than Randy Moss or that the Giants receivers are better than the Patriots receivers. His answer is also true. Randy Moss is the best receiver on the field in every game. However, Plaxico provides some matchup problems of his own (see NFC Championship game). As far as the other Patriot receivers, they have done a great job capitalizing on the attention that Randy Moss gets but they are role players. Again, I'm not trying to criticize anybody here. I just think that Plaxico's comments are being a little overblown. This is what happens when we have to wait two weeks for one game. The media always needs something to talk about. As Babcock said earlier in the season, the Patriots have learned to be very media savvy. The Giants are just starting to learn that anything you say can be turned against you.

Moving on to the questions:

1) Bill Simmons has put out a call to Giants fans to create a nickname for Brandon Jacobs...please throw your hat into the ring.

To be honest with you, I really think that people are over thinking this one. I've heard a lot of people referencing Christian "The Nigerian Nightmare" Okoye when brainstorming for Jacobs' nickname. While I realize that they are both very large, the similarities end there. Jacobs is from Louisiana, which doesn't really lend itself to nicknames. Plus, even the ones that do work (ie ragin cajun) are out because there are tons of people from Louisiana that play in the NFL. Also, I'd like to think that Jacobs is a more versatile runner than Okoye, who was more or less a battering ram. Look, we've had MJ, we've had TD, we've had KG, I've heard AP used for Adrian Peterson, and of course we've had LT, the greatest linebacker in history. For this reason, I move that Brandon Jacobs be known as BJ from this point forward. It satisfies on so many levels.
























Eat this Rodney.






On a side note, I'd be interested to hear from our readers on what was or is the greatest nickname of all time. The general consensus seems to be "the Big Unit." However, I've always been partial to "the Worm."


2) As an outsider, I have been very impressed by Eli Manning's performance through the playoffs. But I am unsure what this all really means in the grand scheme of things... Do you think he can maintain, or elevate, his performance for one more game? Does his appearance in the Super Bowl finally get him a seat at the grown-ups table with Archie and Peyton next Thanksgiving? Why did he run 40 yards to hug punter Jeff Feagles after the game winning kick, is something going on there?

As an insider, I have been shocked by Eli's performance throughout the playoffs. Not surprisingly, it has turned out that as Eli goes, so go the Giants. Anybody that watches the Giants every week knows that Eli, much like the entire Giants team, has the talent to make all of the plays. However, much like the Giants, up until the playoffs, he never seemed to be able to put everything together. It has been great to watch, and I couldn't be happier for him. I know that there are people out there who will never like Eli because of how he came into the league. However, he has done everything right since he has been here. The reports are that he works diligently all year round at the Giants practice facility, never complains or gets down on any of his teammates, and spends significantly more time watching film than anyone else on the team. In fact, it was Eli that convinced Plaxico Burress to spend the off-season in New York so that the two could improve their on-field connection. Clearly, this has paid huge dividends, particularly with Burress unable to practice all year. You always hope that things will work out for a guy with his work ethic.



I don't believe that Archie Manning ever played in a Super Bowl. After Sunday, Eli and Peyton will have been to the same number. So, really I think that he may be sitting at the head of the table from now on. Although Eli's stats have not always been great, he has led the Giants to the playoffs in every season that he has started, and he obviously took a huge step this year. The Giants are a good, young team and I think that they will be good for many years. Eli may not finish his career with better statistics than his older brother or his father (who was always throwing because the Saints were always losing), but I really think that he will be remembered as being the most successful of the three in the post-season. To me, nothing could be more important.

Listen man, the only other person I can ever remember in sports history running around after a huge win looking for someone to hug is Jimmy V. If Eli has one half of the charisma and drive that Jimmy V had, he will no doubt be very succesful. Also, Jeff Feagles is THE GREATEST PUNTER OF ALL TIME. How many times do I have to say this? I think that he has probably had a great impact on Eli, and rightfully so. We joke about punters a lot on here, but Jeff Feagles is the real deal.

Finally, I think that the following quote from Eli Manning demonstrates why he, and not Philip Rivers, is the perfect quarterback for the Giants. The day after the Giants defeated the Packers, Eli Manning was asked if he was happy to prove all of his critics wrong. Keep in mind that nobody in the entire league has earned more of a right to stand at the podium and tell everyone to fuck off, and Rivers probably would have.

Here was his answer:
"This is bigger than that. This is about this team. It is about the players, the coaches, everybody who has believed in us, who has had no doubt and just comes to work every day preparing and keeps working. That is what it is about. It is not about proving anything to anybody. It is just about doing it for yourself, doing it for your teammates."



3) If you would, please explain to me how it is possible for Tom Coughlin to have such a Red Face?

I really can't explain this phenomenon. It's like asking me to explain Dolly Parton's bust size, or how Manute Bol could be so large and yet this wrist band seems so loose on his dainty wrist:

Look, I'll be honest, I worry about Old Redface. Maybe he has high blood pressure. Maybe he gets embarrassed whenever people are watching him. I can't explain it, and I'm not going to try. Instead, why don't all of you watch this sick Slayer video: