Save The Best For Last; Tiki Sets Franchise Record In Final Regular Season Game

Tiki Barber continues to defy logic. In the first few years of his career, he didn't have the size to be an every down back. When fumbling problems threatened to unseat him as the featured back, he managed to fix that. When he hit the running back wall of age 30, he inexplicably took his game to MVP-caliber heights. Finally, just when it seemed he resigned himself to his post-football career, Tiki torched the Redskins last night to virtually assure the Giants will make the playoffs. Barber set a new franchise record for rushing yards in a game with 234 and notched his first ever three touchdown performance as the Giants defeated the Redskins 34-28. If some of Barber's magic can rub off on the rest of the team, they will put up a fight in either Dallas or Philadelphia next weekend.

Everytime there's been a microphone in Barber's face, he's used it to conduct unofficial auditions. The comments he's made regarding his post-football life have lead many (including myself) to question his ability to focus and perform on Sundays. He answered all those critics emphatically by turning in the finest performance of his career. Unfortunately, his brilliant performance concealed several issues that could send the Giants to a quick playoff exit.

Giants-Redskins Preview

Week 17 kicks off tonight with the Redskins hosting the Giants at FedEx Field. In their first meeting, the Giants were dominant in a 19-3 win at Giants Stadium. Unless you've been living under a rock the past two months, you know many things have changed. The Giants went from chic Super Bowl pick to "team turmoil", whose members haven't missed an opportunity for a detrimental sound bite. For the Redskins, Coach Gibbs benched starting quarterback Mark Brunell in favor of young Jason Campbell and an injury to Clinton Portis has led to the emergence of Ladell Betts. The Skins have been playing better football of late, including a win on the road in New Orleans two weeks ago. Running back Ladell Betts has eclipsed 100 yards in five consecutive games. No matter what the records, a December game between the Giants and Redskins will always be intense. Tonight figures to be no different.

The Giants Will Win If... they can stop beating themselves. Out of all the errors the team has made this year, the worst has been consistently putting themselves in bad situations with penalties. Coach Coughlin finally has made his players accountable and supposedly will bench major culprit Bob Whitfield. With the switch of play callers, the Giants hope Kevin Gilbride will put the offense in better situations to score points. It all starts with getting more touches for Tiki Barber. Between Eli's struggles and their inability to keep their defense off the field, the Giants must establish a consistent running game. In the passing game, someone needs to step up. The perfect man seems to be Sinorice Moss, who would allow Eli to develop an early rythym with some short passes and screens. His speed could be a great mismatch for a depleted Redskins secondary. Defensively, the Giants need to challenge Jason Campbell to beat them. He has a talented trio of WR's and a great pass catching tight end but is still very inexperienced. Betts has been extremely effective running between the tackles, so Barry Coefield and Fred Robbins need to get penetration. Antonio Pierce always has a chip on his shoulder facing his former team, so he should be ready to neutralize Betts. On special teams, they can not afford to give away great field position like they did last week. They could really use a spark from the kick return unit that has failed to produce all season. Again, this is an area where Sinorice Moss could be a difference maker.


The Redskins Will Win If...they can shut down the Giants running game. Eli Manning's struggles have been well documented, so the Giants should be expected to give a heavy dose of the ground game. The offense has been given a huge boost by the play of Ladell Betts. Since filling in for the injured Clinton Portis, Betts has topped 100 yards rushing in each of the last five games. He's taken a lot of pressure off inexperienced QB Jason Campbell. Campbell's numbers are nothing spectacular, but he's been efficient. He's shown the ability to make plays down the field and is starting to get better play from his receivers. Last year's December matchup in Washington turned out to be the Santana Moss show. The Giants had no answers for him and he could give a struggling secondary nightmares all day. If the offensive line can give Campbell time to throw, they should have opportunities to attack down the field. Defensively the Redskins have been susceptible to deep passing plays and that should continue now that cornerback Shawn Springs is out. Sean Taylor has terrific ball skills but can be caught being too aggressive. Like the Gians, they should stack the box and make Eli Manning beat them. With Shockey out and other receivers struggling, they need to make the Giants one dimensional.

Prediction: In the past two months, nothing has gone right for the Giants. They've squandered fourth quarter leads, they've shown dissension in the locker room, and they've nearly played themselves out of the playoffs. But that's just it: NEARLY played themselves out of the playoffs. With a win tonight, they're virtually assured of a playoff berth. For all that's gone wrong, one victory can change everything. Unfortunately, the Giants have been in this situation for weeks and still can't play well enough to win. The Redskins would love to spoil the Giants postseason plans, so I imagine they'll come to play. Former Redskin Antonio Pierce said earlier this week he expects the Redskins to be physical, so at the very least the Giants have to limp in to the playoffs battered. Everything surrounding this game indicates it will come down to who can run the football. The NFL has been so crazy this year, it'll probably turn in to a shootout. With a loss, the Tiki Barber era and Tom Coughlin era will come to a close. It may just be foolish optimism, but expect the Giants to get themselves in great playoff position.

Offense Limping In to Washington

On the eve of the regular season finale, TE Jeremy Shockey and all purpose OL Rich Seubert did not travel with the team to Washington. They both have been ruled out for what may be the team's final game of 2006. In their place, expect Visanthe Shiancoe to start at TE and Grey Ruegamer to start at left guard. With Seubert out and Ruegamer starting inside, the Giants will have to rely on newly signed TE Darcy Johnson in multiple tight end sets. They have preferred to use Seubert and Ruegamer as additional blockers in those situations, but expect Johnson to be thrown in to the fire.

With Shockey out, there is additional pressure on the Giants' receivers to step up. Coughlin has shown desperation in many of his choices this week, so hopefully that'll lead him to give rookie Sinorice Moss a shot. Until he definitively proves he is uncapable of stepping up, I'm going to continue touting him as our best option behind Burress. As I've previously stated, this could be a big week for him to get involved. A matchup with his older brother Santana should have him focused and the Redskins secondary is depleted with an injury to Shawn Springs.

Tired of Tiki

Let me preface the following paragraphs with this important piece of information: there is nothing Tiki Barber could ever do to erase how important he's been to the New York Giants for the past ten years. However, the more interviews he conducts, the more magazines that feature articles on him, and the more radio spots he does is making his impending retirement a lot easier to handle. Quite frankly, it is time for him to go. His heart is not in the game and the more evident it becomes, the harder it is to root for him. I've been fighting this feeling for weeks, but his constant dismissal of being sentimental about his last few games is troubling. He claims he's not focused on himself as part of an effort to put his team first, but it's clear that's not the case. Ironically, his general lack of focus is hurting the team far more than the "Me-Ki" label he was given earlier this year. The following quote appeared in today's Journal News. It reads like every other sound bite he has given the past few week's, but is especially telling in where his focus truly lies.

"My focus is on winning. That's what I've been thinking about for the last few weeks. Just like it wasn't overly emotional last week [the home finale]. I love this game, but I also have great excitement about what I'm going to do next."

Tiki's philosophical take on the next phase of his life may be endearing to network executives, but it's as nauseating as that face Eli makes after a foolish mistake. Look, we're all happy that his hard work has translated in to a very successful NFL career which will enable him television opportunities. But Tiki needs to learn, as far as his appearance and intelligence would have gotten him in life, it is nowhere as important as his NFL pedigree. To forsake that, to label it only as "a character I've been playing for 10 years" as he suggests in ESPN the Magazine, is a disservice to the New York Giants organization and his fans. No one can question he's still being productive when called upon, but that's more of a testament to his fierce competitiveness. And I would never suggest he's not trying to help win ball games, but to focus so much on his post-football days while still suiting up is unacceptable. I'm not questioning his decision to retire; he has every right to hang it up after this season. But leave the candid discussion about retirement until his playing days are officially over. The worst part of all is watching his mannerisms on game day.

The cameras follow him around as often as they can on Sundays, but all that can be seen are blank stares by a man already thinking about his post game interviews. For once, I'd like to see him in a group with the other running backs, giving out a few last pointers. Or maybe pulling his quarterback aside, telling him the days of relying on his all-purpose back are numbered so he better get his act together. Maybe he could talk to his ego-maniacal receivers, show them you can achieve great things with some class and a lot of hard work. Instead, he's fantasizing about being the next Matt Lauer. Think I was disgusted by the comments he made above? I'd rather watch the Red Sox 2004 Championship DVDs than have to read that again. Now I'm not trying to say Lauer is not good at what he does, or that Tiki shouldn't try and emulate a professional in a field that he's interested in. All I'm saying is save that talk for the offseason. Right now, he is a member of the New York Football Giants. He has always been the consumate professional, which should include being 100 percent focused on the tasks at hand for your current employer. He's certainly not doing that right now, and it's hard to handle. Saturday could be the last time Giants fans see Tiki Barber running for Big Blue. Unfortunately, they care about it a hell of a lot more than he does.

Coughlin Sick Of Head-Butts; Whitfield sent to the bench

Tom Coughlin's week of shake-ups continued with the announcement that Bob Whitfield will be replaced at left tackle by David Diehl. Diehl's vacant left guard position will be assumed by Rich Seubert, if healthy. If he can't go, Grey Ruegamer would get the nod. While most Giants fans would like to see Coughlin fired, I must applaud the moves he's making to try and win this weekend. The biggest thing to question is what took Coughlin so long to make these moves. Whether it was purely speculation or had some substance, the shifting on the offensive line has been an issue since mid-November. In an entry from November 16th, I discussed several possibilities, one of which is the lineup Coughlin will be using this weekend. It's clear he is making a last ditch effort to save his job, but if he tried these things earlier, he probably wouldn't be facing the same predicament.

Whitfield has been woefully ineffective and surprisingly stupid. He committed two more personal fouls against the Saints, including his second headbutting penalty in four games. Either it's been such a long time since he's been a full time starter that he has forgotten the rules or headbutting wasn't expressly a penalty when he entered the league 15 years ago. Either way, his replacement is long overdue. It's a shame to interrupt Diehl's progress as an interior lineman, but desperate times call for desperate measures. He's big and quick enough to fend off speed rushers off the edge. If Seubert can play, there really isn't a drop off in production from the left guard position.

Other News and Notes:
Jeremy Shockey has missed practice all week with a sprained ankle and will be a game-time decision. If he has to sit, Vishante Shiancoe would get the start. I expect Shockey will do everything he can to play, but he's had nagging ankle injuries for quite some time. He leads the team in receptions and his absence would be a devastating blow to a struggling offense.

Some good news for Michael Strahan. Doctors have informed the star defensive end that he will not need surgery to repair the Lisfranc sprain in his foot. Strahan confirmed on his weekly WFAN spot that if he needed surgery, retirement would have been a very real possibility.

Zito Becomes Richest Pitcher Ever

The prize pitcher of the 2006 free agent class found the highest bidder, but it wasn't who many expected. With the deep pocket Yankees, Rangers, and Mets in the mix, it did not seem likely Barry Zito would remain on the Pacific Coast. However, with a 7 year deal worth $126 million the Bay Area will retain one of its stars, just in a new uniform. Zito joins the San Francisco Giants to fill the void left by Jason Schmidt. The seven year deal is the richest package ever given to a pitcher and seventh all time. It also includes an eighth year option which would boost the package to $144 million. Now that the ace of the free agent class is off the market, it'll be interesting to examine how the remaining crop plays out.

With Zito gone, there's only one guy still considered a front line starter and his status is very questionable. If Clemens does decide to come back, the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees seem to be the only likely destinations. This spells trouble for teams such as the Mets who are in the market for a top tier guy. Fresh off his impressive outings in the 2006 playoffs, there could be a competitive market for Jeff Weaver. He's widely regarded to be the best free agent pitcher not named Clemens. A wild card could be fellow Cardinal Mark Mulder. He proved to be just as effective as Barry Zito and Tim Hudson while part of the "Big Three", but has disappointed during his stay in St. Louis. A change of scenery, plus some luck curing up some nagging health issues, could make Mulder a steal.

Starbury Shines Bright; Knicks PG Nets 41 in 3 OT Win Over Pistons

Although no one likes to admit it, the Melee in Manhattan may have lit a fire under the Knicks. Since the brawl the Knicks have won 4 out of their last 5 games, including 4 straight on their home floor. Last night the Knicks received a terrific effort from several key players in defeating a tough Pistons team after 7 periods of play. Even more incredible, the win vaulted the Knicks to the top of the division. Just to reiterate, the much maligned Knickerbockers are now in first place. Granted they are in one of the worst divisions in the history of the NBA, this team is actually putting a good product on the floor. There are many reasons to watch this team right now, below are just a few:

The Evolution of Eddy Curry. It is still hard to justify the steep price Isiah paid (and is still paying in draft choices) to bring the young big man to New York, but the 25 year old "veteran" is shaping in to one of the most talented Centers in basketball. With Shaq sidelined for a while, Curry has a good chance to be selected to his first All-Star Game. His strong play continued with 33 points last night, including 11 of 15 from the free throw line. Unlike many of today's big men, he knows his place is filling the lane. He can score in a variety of ways close to the basket and has not been trying to take shots out of his range.

The Return of "Starbury". A few weeks back, Isiah had his star point guard talk to former Knick great Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Although he may be terribly irritating to listen to on Knicks tv broadcasts, he may have struck a chord with their court general. To borrow a line from Frazier, Marbury is back to "swishin and dishin". His numbers are up all across the board and he's providing a ton of energy. With Robinson and Francis out of the lineup, it seems he enjoys having more responsibility in the offense. He's developed a nice rapport with Jamal Crawford, who has also played very well during this recent run. Isiah clearly trusts Crawford with the game on the line, opting to let Jamal let loose in the final seconds of every tight game.

The Sophomore Forwards. Whenever there's a discussion on Isiah Thomas, it always goes something like this: "He's never enjoyed success running a team, but he always has drafted well." Watching the progress of second year forwards Channing Frye and David Lee, it's hard to argue that. Frye, who enjoyed success as a rookie but struggled early in the year, is finding his rythym again. He knocked down a long range jumper at the buzzer to send the game in to triple overtime and totaled 26 points for the game. For many, the bigger story has been the emergence of David Lee. Lee has been a rebounding machine since his minutes have increased and leads the team with over 10 per game. Unfortunately, with the return of Jared Jeffries last night, he resumed his role as sixth man. For a team that struggled at the beginning of games to start the season, it seems more than coincidental that they've been more competitive since Lee cracked the starting rotation. Hopefully Isiah can realize this and keep the team rolling.

For all that's been made of the Garden crowd booing the home team, excitement is back in the world's most famous arena. Last night's thriller with the Pistons had the fans out of their seats and involved in all the key moments. As they say, winning cures a lot of ills. It's been a while since the Knicks have been perched on top, but the fans must have cautious optimism. The team is still five games under .500 with a lot of season to play. For Isiah Thomas, the current winning streak at the Garden has made his seat a little cooler but still has little chance of survival without a spot in the playoffs.

MLB Forced To Hand Over Drug Tests

As part of the new collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Players association, over 100 positive drug tests from 2003 were kept private by the league office. Earlier today an Appeals Court ruled that MLB is required to hand over the results of the tests to the committee investigating steroid use in baseball. The league office could petition the Supreme Court to hear the case, but only about 1 percent of cases submitted to the high court are ruled on in a given year (and who says Political Science and sports never mix). This is a significant blow to the players' association because it is only a matter of time that these names are leaked. With an estimated 100 failed tests, lots of current players will certainly be dragged in the mud.

From a fan's standpoint, this is a bitersweet victory. It's anyone's guess who will go down once the name's are leaked, but it will be refreshing to learn who the "clean" players are. However, the shadow cast by steroid use has become too large to definitively assess any of the innocent players. For the 100 or so who get caught now that the Government is in possession of the list, it simply means they were not smart enough to take a substance the league didn't or couldn't test for at the time(such as HGH or the BALCO designer steroids). It wouldn't be surprising if many of the men we suspect of steroid use (Bonds, Giambi, Sheffield, etc) do not appear on any of these documents. In terms of players being prosecuted, it does not seem likely this far after the fact. The presumed revelation of these lists will only serve to tarnish images around the league, not for them to face any punitive charges.

Playoffs?!? As crazy as it sounds, Giants nearly in control of destiny

It would take a pretty convincing argument to persuade anyone to believe that the New York Football Giants are a playoff caliber team right now. However, if they win at Washington on Saturday, it is extremely likely they will hold on to the sixth seed in the NFC. The scenarios have been described over and over in articles all over the web. However, it always seems easier to learn from a graphic than discern sports writer babble. For Giants fans, the only 7-8 team of any concern is the Green Bay Packers. They own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Atlanta and Carolina, as well as the conference record tiebreaker over the St. Louis. Due to an identical conference record, no head to head matchup, and an even winning percentage in common games if both win their remaining game, the tiebreaker goes to Strength of Victory. Strength of victory is calculated by adding up the records of all the teams beaten by the team in question. For example, if you beat a 5-0 team and an 0-5 team, your strength of victory would be .500 (5-5) percent. Right now the Giants hold a huge advantage in this department, so the Packers need everything to break their way in this weekend's action. A lot to digest, right? With that in mind, below is an easy to follow chart on the only way the Giants could be left out of the Super Bowl tournament with a win.

SCENARIO FOR GIANTS NOT TO MAKE PLAYOFFS WITH WIN:
(All Packers Victims Projected to Win, All Giants Victims Projected to Lose)
PACKERS VICTIMS RECORD GIANTS VICTIMS RECORD
Detroit 3-13 Philadelphia 10-6/9-7
Miami 7-9 Washington 5-11
Arizona 6-10 Atlanta 7-9/8-8
Minnesota 7-9 Dallas 9-7
San Francisco 7-9 Tampa Bay 4-12
Detroit 3-13 Houston 5-11
Minnesota 7-9 Carolina 7-9
Bears 13-3 Washington 5-11

FINAL TOTALS: 53-75 52-76

*Philadelphia and Atlanta play each other in Week 17

As you can see, if all of the Packers previous victims win they will have a total of 53 wins compared to the Giants 52 if all of theirs lose. This chart only explains how the Giants DO NOT qualify with a win. What is not evident from this chart is that Dallas hosts Detroit on Sunday. If Dallas wins, the tiebreaker is clinched for the Giants. It seems pretty reasonable that a playoff team fighting for the division can beat arguably football's worst team on their home field. There are many other reasonable scenarios that put the Giants in the playoffs with a win, but the last part may be the trickiest. Getting a win, although its the only thing they can control, looks to be the toughest for them to handle.

The Giants are playing terrible football, but are hoping a change in play-calling duties can spark a stagnant offense. Instilling Kevin Gilbride as the play caller seems to be a way of improving Eli Manning. Gilbride is the man most responsible for dealing with the young quarterback and his selection may signal concern within the organization about Eli's lack of progress. Coach Coughlin suggested he'd been mulling the decision to strip Hufnagel of his duties, but it seems his loyalty to a long-time employee got in the way of rational decision making. Hufnagel has been connected to Coughlin for many years and the head coach has always been known for his dedication to people he trusts. It's just unfortunate that his own personal dilemma has disrupted the success of his football team for possibly an irreparable period of time.

Giants Lose Strahan For Season; Petitgout and Morton also placed on IR

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Giants fans prayers were answered when star defensive end Michael Strahan returned to the field on Sunday, but now all are hoping that he hadn't. Just as the defense felt whole again, Strahan re-injured his foot and will miss the remainder of the season. Amidst renewed optimism with their favorable chances of making the playoffs, the Giants will also be without the services of Luke Petitgout. There had been hope the left tackle would be able to return, but he has not healed as quickly as the organization previously thought. The announcement of Morton was a mere formality after he tore his ACL in Sunday's home loss. For Giants fans, the losses of Strahan and Petitgout are devastating. Although Sunday's game left little to be desired, Strahan seemed to be very active after his long lay off. There was some concern he could re-aggrevate the injury, and obviously those trepidations were warranted. The status of Petitgout has always been more of a mystery, but everything out of Giants' camp suggested he'd be prepared as early as the season finale at Washington. His recovery has not progressed far enough for the Giants to feel he'd be ready anytime soon.

Obviously the bigger story is losing these three key components, but my bigger issue is with their replacements. Taking their spots on the roster will be WR Darius Watts, TE Darcy Johnson, and RB Robert Douglas. Some rationality can be given to the Watts signing. He's a young, speed guy who enjoyed a little success in his short tenure with Denver. The Giants receiving corps needed a bolster, and I have no problem bringing in outside help to do so. It seems there are better options out there with the recent release of Vikings WR Marcus Robinson, but Watts certainly had more signability. However, I don't possibly see a need for another TE and RB, no matter what their caliber. The Giants were content to enter the season with 2 Tight Ends and have had no problem using Rich Seubert in addition to Shiancoe and Shockey. Johnson has failed to catch on with the Giants in the past, and Tight End is one of the few positions the Giants are settled in. Another one of those positions is Running Back, but the Giants inexplicably signed Douglas off the Texans practice squad. First, how desperate for RB's do you have to be to sign a guy who couldn't catch on in the Texans backfield. Secondly, the Giants just flat out do not need any more running backs. When they placed Derrick Ward on IR last week, they promoted practice squad running back James Sims. That signing was curious enough, there was no need to add another guy who is not going to carry the football. With glaring needs on the defensive and offensive lines, how is that not addressed? I understand the Giants signed OL Steve Edwards when they released Chris Claiborne, but nagging injuries along with Petitgout's trip to the IR makes more linemen necessary. On the other side of the ball, the Giants are in desperate need of bodies. Right now the Giants are inexperienced and thin along the defensive line and could really use a run stopping end to spell Kiwanuka. It seems the incompetence from the sidelines is leaking in to the management office.

A lone bright spot is that John Hufnagel has been stripped of playcalling duties. According to Ralph Vacchiano, the Giants beat writer for the Daily News, Coughlin made the decision to give the offense a spark. The man now responsible for restoring order to the offense will be quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride. Since Hufnagel has set a very low standard, I feel confident Gilbride can bring more to the table. This move clearly signals that Coughlin fears for his job, as well he should. Even though a win virtually assures the Giants of a playoff berth, it is widely speculated that his abrasive style has not meshed well with Giants executives. Getting in to the playoffs may not even be enough to save his job, but you can be assured failing to qualify will certainly end his reign.

Cashman Not Done With His Christmas Shopping

During the "hot stove" months, Yankee fans are always speculating which new faces will be in the Bronx by the holiday season. Brian Cashman's biggest gift this Christmas has been bringing back Andy Pettitte, but reports are surfacing that he may have an even bigger surprise. To the delight of many Yankees fans, it could involve getting rid of a past his prime star who never quite fit in his pinstripes. According to various baseball officials, the Diamondbacks are among several teams interested in acquiring Randy Johnson. Yankees brass have confirmed that Johnson approached the team about being moved closer to his home in Arizona. Johnson's representation has emphasized that he has not demanded a trade and would be happy to pitch for the Yankees in the upcoming season.

In the wake of the Johnson trade rumors, the Yankees now appear to be in the Barry Zito sweepstakes. Up to this point, the leading contenders to land the talented lefty have been the Texas Rangers and New York Mets. It is believed the Rangers could offer a more substantial financial package, but the Mets have been pitching their chances as one of the top contenders in the National League as their main selling point. Mets officials have already traveled to California to talk to the prized free agent, but with agent Scott Boras a decision is not expected soon. If nothing else, expect the price tag for Zito to rise. With the Yankees as potential bidders, Boras has incredible leverage.

The marriage between the Yankees and Johnson has been a rocky one. In 2006 he posted an ERA of 5.00 and has still not won a postseason game for the Bombers. Nagging injuries have been a concern and the Yankees would love to free themselves of the $16 million they owe the 43 year old this season. The Yankees would love to get younger in their rotation and reaching a deal with Zito would satisfy that. There's still only a remote chance the Oakland lefty will wind up in the Bronx, but if the Yankees can deal Johnson its likelihood will increase. Even if the Yankees don't land Zito, expect a lot of New Yorkers to rejoice if they can unload the Big Unit.

Bush-Whacked: Rookie leads rout of Giants

In a game taking on great significance by the impending retirement of Tiki Barber, running backs did prove to be the difference in this game. Unfortunately for the home team, the tandem of Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister gashed the Giants defense for well over 200 yards. For the first time in his career Bush eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a game and both players reached the end zone. With receivers from both teams unable to catch the football, the sparkling play of Reggie Bush stood out. With the playoffs again on the line, the Gians played uninspired football despite the return of defensive leader Michael Strahan and the Meadowlands finale of Tiki Barber. Giants fans have to be wondering, if the team can't get up for a game like this, how can they ever? Emotions rode high through the first scoring drive, but the air came out of the sails with a crucial fumble by Chad Morton. The 2006 season has been a series of ups and downs for the Giants, but Sunday might have reached a new low. Discounting the first 2 and a half minutes of the game, the Giants couldn't have beaten a high school team. Several flaws were alarming not only for how they kept Big Blue out of this game, but because they have become troublesome trends.

Discipline and Emotion. After the 2003 season, the Giants brought in Tom Coughlin to crack the whip on a highly penalized team. Instead, the 2004-2006 Giants have become less disciplined than in the preceeding Fassel era. Penalties again plagued the Giants, including an inexplicable second headbutting personal foul on veteran Bob Whitfield in his last four games. Linemate Shaun O'Hara also picked up a personal foul, demonstrating the utter frustration this team is feeling. Coughlin's abrasive style has just not fit well with his players and has not translated in to smarter football. Another intangible provided by leadership, particularly coaching, is emotion. Aside from the first drive, the Giants were completely devoid of it. Players routinely jogged off the field, only to sit on the bench listless and dejected. The return of Strahan figured to help cure this problem, but having a timid quarterback who won't fire up his troops has really taken its toll on an offense full of egos.

Play-calling. Sean Payton put on a display of how to call a football game. Throughout the first quarter, with the wind at his back, he pounded the Giants with the pass. Even though they had little success, they gave the Giants something to think about. With the wind in their face in the second quarter, they used the run for a demoralizing 18 play, 89 yard drive that took over 8 minutes before Marques Colston capped it with a touchdown. The Saints were so effective in setting up the run with the pass that Brees suffered one of his worst outings of the season, yet won by 23 points on the road. Payton also demonstrated his aggressiveness, converting a couple of crucial fourth downs and not easing up even with a big lead. Conversely, the offensive minds of the Giants were again horribly ineffective. It is hard to know whose to blame, offensive coordinator John Hufnagel or head coach Tom Coughlin, so let's just consider them both guilty. Neither men have a good feel for a game and their play-calling reflects that. They're consistenly not aggressive enough and always seem to be two steps behind the other coaches. Coughlin constantly reiterates this in post game conferences with "we were expecting this, but they did that" statements, which clearly means they were not prepared for what the opponent would bring. While execution has surely lacked in recent weeks, the players do not seem to be put in good situations to win.

Execution. As much as the fans would love to blame everything on the coaches (the "Fire Coughlin chants" surely support that line of thought), the players simply did not execute today. The defense certainly wore down as the game went on, but that was mainly a resule of a woeful offense. Special teams got absolutely dominated as the Saints benefitted from great field position. There were three turnovers, to New Orleans zero, and the offense just never found a rythym. In a game filled with lows, the "straw that broke the camels back" seemed to be when Jeremy Shockey dropped an easy conversion in the closing minute of the first half. Down 13-7 and the ball near midfield, Eli's best pass of the day lead a wide open Shockey for what would have been a conversion on fourth and two. Instead the Pro Bowl TE let it slip through his mitts, and the Giants wasted a chance at a rare opportunity to move the ball in to Saints territorry. To that end, the Giants ran zero plays in Saints territorry. Let that sink in. Zero plays run on the Saints half of the field throughout the entire game. If there's ever proof of being thoroughly dominated in your home building, that is the telling statistic.

The Play of Eli Manning. With young quarterbacks coming up big all across the league, it is tough to continue defending Eli Manning. As part of he blockbuster draft day trade that brought him to New York, the Giants traded away several draft picks. The Chargers used them to select three guys named to this year's AFC Pro Bowl team. Even in a weak NFC for quarterbacks, Manning was undeserving. I'm still not ready to label this trade a failure, or definitively say Manning's a bust, but his nonchalant attitude and faulty mechanics are not getting the job done. The receivers certainly aided his 9 for 25 performance today, but Manning routinely throws the ball to the wrong spots. His decision making is still questionable and he seems reluctant at times to pull the trigger. This is a young, struggling quarterback whose coaches show no confidence in him through their play selection. While many other players certainly deserved to be called out for their ineffectiveness, you have to start with the supposed leader. Maybe it's not in his makeup to get in a guy's face, but he needs to find a way to control an offense full of egos.

Special teams and the passing game. When expecting a tight game, it is imperative to win the field position battle. In yet another sign of the rout, New Orleans average starting field position on 14 possessions was at their 43 yard line. To put that in perspective, the Giants only started one drive past their own 43 yard line and that was the final play of the game. Special teams must assume a lot of responsibility for the mismatch in field position, especially a costly fumble by Chad Morton deep in Giants territorry and a big Michael Lewis kick return to open the second half. They were not the only culprits. An ill-advised snap by Shaun O'Hara led to another fumble in Giants territorry and Eli Manning threw a late game interception. It is amazing how devastating the losses of Amani Toomer and Luke Pettitgout have been to the passing game. Teams are clearly not afraid to attack Whitfield and have forced the Giants to keep Barber in to block in many passing situations. He's responded with a pair of terrible personal foul penalties and Eli certainly seems concerned about his blindside protection. Tim Carter and David Tyree combined for more drops than catches today to continue their sub-par performance on the season. Someone needs to please explain to me why Sinorice Moss continues to sit on the sidelines. Today he proved to be ineffective with just one catch for no gain as well as a drop, but he's not even getting a chance to see the field. Even if the rookie only plays up to the miniscule standards set forth by the guys ahead of him on the depth chart, at least the coaches took the chance to give a stagnant offense a shot in the arm. Although not particularly effective on kick returns today, he showed enough to warrant more touches offensively. A showdown with his brother in Washington next weekend seems to be a perfect time to see what the kid has.

Sadly, this list could carry on for days without even scratching the surface of all the problems this Giants team has. The players preach that their talent will prevail, but they have not shown any cohesiveness or character in their two month slide. I'd be remissed if I didn't at least acknowledge the efforts of Will Demps. The lone bright spot in today's game, Demps flew all over the field making plays and never seemed to quit. Hopefully that attitude will rub off on the rest of the team as they look to continue their season. Despite their horrible play, they find themselves in a good position to still make the playoffs. They will enter week 17 as the sixth seed in the NFC Playoffs and hold tie-break advantages over several of the competing teams. It's time for this team to start performing up to the expectations they set for themselves. With a new General Manager coming in to town, next week's game could also be auditions for making next year's squad. In an unpredictable league, a lot can change in a week. Hopefully for the Giants they can buck the above mentioned trends and continue playing in January.

Giants vs. Saints Preview

While Giants fans have accepted the fact that Tiki Barber will walk away after the season, missing the playoffs after a 6-2 would be totally unacceptable. The team has a chance to rebound in today's critical home finale versus the NFC South champion Saints. On the opposing sidelines will be one of the talented young coaches in the NFL, a man who rose to prominence guiding the Giants offense to the top record in the NFC in 2000. Once presumed to be the man groomed to take over the reins for Big Blue, Giants fans can just wonder "what if" as they see Sean Payton lead the Saints this afternoon. However, Coach Coughlin can score a big victory over the doubters with wins in the Giants final two games. In order to get that win, the Giants must accomplish the following:

Run the football effectively. Much has been made of Tiki's final home game and the star back has a chance to carry his team to the postseason. The Giants must get him involved early and often for two important reasons. First of all, the Giants are simply a better football team when Barber gets his touches. Second, controlling the clock keeps the explosive Saints offense on the sidelines. With Saints run stopping specialist Hollis Thomas sitting as part of a suspension, the Giants should be able to run the football at will.

Get pressure on Drew Brees. The Giants get a huge boost by the return of Michael Strahan. In his absence, opposing quarterbacks have had plenty of time to pick apart a below average secondary. Last weekend the Redskins showed a lot of pressure up the middle of the field which clearly disrupted Brees' rythym. If the Giants can get some big bodies in the passing lanes, the undersized Brees will have a tough time finding his talented skill players.

Get stops on 3rd down. The Giants inability to get crucial stops has plagued them all season. With injuries taking their toll on depth, a thinning defense has logged too many minutes. If they can't get off the field with stops on third down, expect more troubles holding leads in the fourth quarter.

Convert in the green zone. For such an explosive offense, the Giants inexplicably have struggled inside the green zone. Several key drives have stalled inside the 10 yard line, including two crucial ones against Philadelphia last Sunday. More plays need to be called for their tall receiving targets Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress. Their size needs to be used in mismatches when the field shrinks.

Spread the ball around. Often times Manning gets locked in to getting Burress involved and neglects his other receivers. Jeremy Shockey needs to get touches early in the game to keep the defense honest. The Giants have a home-run threat in Sinorice Moss, but for some reason continues to remain on the sideline. Moss can be a real gamechanger if they can get him on the field.

With kickoff about thirty minutes away, the Giants face the real possibility of being virtually eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. While everyone would like to "win one for Tiki", the bigger focus is winning one to stay alive. Getting Michael Strahan will be a huge boost. His leadership has been sorely missed and his presence on the field will force the offense to account for him. It could spell for a huge day for Osi Umenyiora. Offensively, the Giants need to establish the ground game. The Saints have struggled against the run and a lower scoring game favors the Giants. While they have played very well this season, the linebacking corps of the Saints is not capable of containing Jeremy Shockey. Number eighty needs to get his touches. For the Giants, the wild card could be Sinorice Moss. He may get an opportunity to return kicks and his speed could be a huge difference maker. If the Giants can get him on the field, he could be poised for a big day. Look for the Giants to play with a lot of energy and seal up an important late game victory.

Top 10 Tiki Moments at the Meadowlands

Even though the Giants are hosting the Saints in a critical battle for their playoff lives, a major focus this week has been on Tiki Barber. With Barber determined to retire at season's end, the Giants all-time leading rusher is heading in to his last game at Giants Stadium. On the eve of Tiki's last home game, I've decided to reflect on his top NFL moments in the Meadowlands. Drafted in the second round out of Virginia in the 1997 NFL Draft, Barber made his mark early with versatility. Questions surrounded his ability to be an every down back and the Giants were cautious during the early stages of his career. Barber would rotate starts with Tyrone Wheatley and Gary Brown in his first few years, making more of an impact as a receiver out of the backfield and on special teams. However, an injury to Brown and the introduction of offensive coordinator Sean Payton allowed his career to soar. He has exceeded all expectations, becoming the Giants all-time leading rusher and only one of 3 men in NFL history with over 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards. Only time will tell if he gets a bust in Canton, but this will surely be the final season Giants fans see the number 21 on the field. In honor of his ten great years in New York, I've selected ten of the most memorable Tiki moments at Giants Stadium.

10. September 3, 2000 vs. ARIZONA
Twice as Nice: Tiki's first multi-TD game comes to start the 2000 season.

For the first time in his career, Tiki opened the 2000 season firmly entrenched as the main back. While the team had high hopes for Heisman trophy winning rookie Ron Dayne, Tiki was given the lion's share of the carries. Barber opened the season right with 144 yards on the ground and a pair of scores that included a 78 yarder. His 144 yards rushing were the most ever by a Giant in a season opener (which he later broke in 2003 vs. the Rams with 146).

9. October 23, 2005 vs. DENVER
Big block keys late game heroics: Tiki's extra effort allows for game winning score.

The game didn't start well for Barber as he lost a fumble on the Giants opening possession, but the resilient Barber would be instrumental in one of the great comebacks in Giants history. His 110 yards of offense included a spectacular 34 yard run to set up an early score as well as a four yard touchdown run to cut the Giants deficit to six points. While many will remember this game for Eli Manning's first glimpse as a late game hero, he never would have had the chance to shine if not for Barber's crucial block on the game winning score.

8. December 23, 2000 vs. JACKSONVILLE
Lightning Rushes For 1,000: As part of the vaunted "Thunder and Lightning" tandem with Ron Dayne, Barber eclipses 1,000 yards rushing for the first time.

As if that wasn't enough, his 113 yards of total offense allowed him to become the first Giants player to surpass 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season. With home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line, Barber's massive contributions all came with a broken arm. His rushing touchdown helped pave the way for a crucial victory that made the 2000 NFC Playoffs run through the Meadowlands.

7. January 14, 2001 vs. MINNESOTA
"Worst #1 Seed in History" Reaches the Super Bowl: Tiki eifficient in Giants rout of the Vikings.

While this game will be remembered for the aerial heroics of Kerry Collins and his receivers, Tiki's 90 total yards were an important contribution to the blowout. Still battling through a broken left arm, Tiki averaged nearly 6 yards a carry in the Giants biggest win of his tenure. Many prognosticators had written the Giants off; several going so far as to call them the worst number one seed in playoff history. After the blow out, late owner Wellington Mara pleasantly proclaimed the worst #1 seed in history was headed to the Super Bowl.

6. October 18, 1999 vs. DALLAS
Jack of all trades: Tiki sets Giants' record for all-purpose yards in a game.

The versatility that has made Barber such a standout professional was first put on display in this thrilling victory over the division rival Cowboys. After a relatively quiet first three quarters, Barber single-handedly took over the fourth quarter. The lone punt return touchdown of his career came early in the period as he gashed the Cowboys for an 85 yard score. During the game's final drive, Barber's 56 yard catch and run set up a chip shot game winning field goal.

5. August 31, 1997- vs. PHILADELPHIA
Rookie shows off to the home crowd: Rushes for a touchdown in his first NFL start.

The Tiki Barber Era got off to a quick start in the only August regular season game in Giants history. After seven years of watching bruising running back Rodney Hampton set many Giants rushing records, Giants fans were reluctant to accept a new face in the backfield. Starting in his first regular season game, the rookie carried 20 times for 88 yards and a score. He added 3 catches for 32 yards in an impressive 31-17 victory over Philadelphia. Although he still had a lot to prove, Barber made a great first impression.


4. January 2, 2004 vs. DALLAS
Move over Rodney: Tiki breaks record for most rushing yards in Giants history.

In a season with very few highlights, Tiki's monster effort in the season finale solidified his place in Giants history. With 95 yards on the ground, Tiki surpassed Rodney Hampton as the Giants all-time leading rusher. The Giants came in to this game riding an 8 game losing streak, including six under rookie #1 draft pick Eli Manning. Behind Tiki's two touchdowns (one rush and one receiving), the Giants got Eli his first NFL victory. Barber's 4 yard run on fourth down late in the game finished off the comeback. With no first round pick to look forward to in the upcoming draft, Giants and their fans were happy to end the 2004 season on a high note.

3. December 28, 2002 vs. PHILADELPHIA
Win and In: Despite 3 costly fumbles, Tiki rushes for over 200 yards to put the Giants in the playoffs.

In the season finale of 2002, the Giants controlled their playoff destiny. As the white towels the Stadium distributed to the fans said, "Win and In". To amplify the intensity, the division leading Eagles were trying to stand in the way. In what can only be described as a bittersweet moment in Tiki's career, Barber persevered through adversity for arguably his gutsiest game as a pro. Against a stingy run defense, Barber rushed for 203 yards on 32 carries but coughed up three fumbles. The last of his lost fumbles came with the score tied 7-7 in the fourth quarter at the Giants 26 yard line. NFC Pro Bowl kicker David Akers had a chance to win it with a 35 yard field goal, but again the Giants were saved by the "wide right" gods. In overtime Tiki would put the ball on the ground again, but this time he was able to recover. His 29 rushing yards in the overtime period set up Matt Bryant's game winning field goal. Although this game is remembered more for his fumbles, the Giants would have had no chance in this game if not for his 203 yards on the ground as well as 73 more in receiving yards. More importantly, they got the win to get in.

2. December 17, 2005 vs. KANSAS CITY
Reaching new heights: Tiki continues record-setting 2005 with Giants single game rushing record.

In Tiki's finest season, it's only fitting that his trademark performance came in front of his home fans. Barber rushed for a Giants single-game record 220 yards (surpassing Choo Choo Roberts previous mark of 218) on 29 carries with two electrifying touchdowns. His first score came on a remarkable 41 yard scamper in which he broke several tackles and carried the final pursuit in to the end zone on his back. In the fourth quarter and only a 3 point lead, Barber struck again from 20 yards out to wrap up the scoring. From a personal standpoint, this game was easily the loudest I've ever heard Giants stadium. The outpouring of affection towards Barber was unlike anything I've ever been around at Giants Stadium. Cheers of "MVP" reigned supreme in the Stadium and Barber sure looked deserving of it that day.


1. October 30, 2005 vs. WASHINGTON
Honoring a legend: Tiki runs wild after the passing of long time owner and friend Wellington Mara.

If there's one regular season Tiki cared most about winning, you could bet your house it was this October showdown with Washington. After losing long time team owner Wellington Mara earlier in the week, the Giants were playing with heavy hearts. Barber, along with teammate Jeremy Shockey, were at the beloved owners bedside early in the week to spend some of his final moments together. Against a long time rival of Mara's, Tiki wasted no time in paying his respects. On the first play from scrimmage Barber raced 57 yards and continued his torrid pace all afternoon. He finished with a then-personal best 206 yards and two touchdowns. The final margin of 36-0 proved to be a fitting tribute to their late owner, a man whom Barber gives a lot of credit for his success. For what it meant to such a special person in his life, it is hard to imagine Tiki remembering any other game as fondly as this one.

Nuggets Get Their Answer for a Missing 'Melo

How do you respond to losing the top scorer in the NBA? If you're the Denver Nuggets, just go out and acquire the second leading scorer. In the aftermath of the league's decision to suspend their top two performers for a lengthy period, the Denver Nuggets struck a deal with the Philadelphia 76ERS to acquire Allen Iverson. One of the most celebrated Philly athletes ever, Iverson will be switching NBA uniforms for the first time since the franchise made him the top overall pick in the 1996 draft. While Sixers fans will have a tough time saying goodbye, the move couldn't come at a better time for Denver. Disregarding the fact he is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, acquiring Iverson pushed stories of Saturday night's brawl to the back pages. They not only got a scorer they coveted, they were able to turn a negative situation in to a positive in a very short time.

For the immediate future, the edge goes to Denver in this deal. They bring in a bona-fide superstar to help contend in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. Iverson is capable of carrying the offense until Anthony returns and brings a lot of intangibles that Coach Karl covets in a player. Also headed to Denver is youngster Ivan McFarlin, an athletic forward who will only see limited minutes. Although the Nuggets benefit greatly from this deal, they gave up a lot to acquire Iverson. Gone is steady PG Andre Miller, reserve forward Joe Smith, as well as two #1 draft picks. Miller is a big guard who distributes well, can grab rebounds, and also gets to the basket effectively. Smith was only thrown in to the deal for his expiring contract, but can still give the Sixers a boost off the bench. I think the Nuggets will hurt more from the loss of Miller than people are anticipating. They are now left with Earl Boykins as their best true point guard, who teamed with Iverson, would make a tremendously undersized guard tandem. Either Iverson or J.R Smith will be relied on to handle the ball more than they're accustomed to if they want to keep enough size on the court. Also, Smith had finally been thriving as a true shooting guard, it'll be interesting to see if his progress is hindered by the acquistion of Iverson.

The only other question left to be answered by Iverson is whether he can co-exist with Carmelo Anthony. For the first time in his career, Iverson will be the number two guy. While his adjustment to the thin air of the Rockies will take place with Carmelo inactive, he will get a chance to mesh with Anthony in late January. Iverson's always been known to take lots of ill-advised shots and has had trouble getting teammates involved. With Andre Miller gone, the Nuggets will need someone to step up and create shot opportunities for everyone else on the court. If Iverson can help fill that void, this Nuggets team could be very dangerous when the playoffs roll around.

Garcia, Westbrook put G-Men behind the 8-Ball

When the Eagles lost Donovan McNabb a few weeks ago they were written off by everyone. As has been the trend with several teams throughout the league, the Eagles have been revitalized by a Quarterback change. Jeff Garcia has rediscovered the mobility and accuracy that made him a rising star in San Francisco. Unfortunately for teams in the NFC, his emergence has put Philadelphia back in the hunt for a division title and in great shape to secure a wild card. With a 36-22 win over division rival New York, the Eagles assumed the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs and left the Giants clinging to the last spot. However, contrary to popular belief, the Giants do not control their own playoff destiny. They can blame their own inability to take advantage of opportunities on Sunday for the position they find themselves in.

An old NFL addage suggests that a team needs to win at home and play .500 on the road to be a success. For some reason, the Giants refuse to follow the first part of the formula. For the fourth time in seven games at Giants Stadium the Giants failed to put one in the win column. Losing at home to a division rival while fighting for their playoff lives especially stings. They continue to feel the loss of Michael Strahan, dropping to 1-5 without their star DE this season. The lack of a pass rush really exposes the secondary, which even when Corey Webster is healthy, has shown very little. There are several things the Giants must improve in their final two games in order to make the postseason.

First and foremost, their "green zone" offense and defense must improve. Twice on Sunday the Giants had goal to go situations and settled for three points. They could have turned a 14-10 deficit in to a comfortable 24-14 lead with more effective execution inside the 10. It seems as though the playcalling has been miserable in these situations, but the players must accept some accountability for not making something happen. On the other side of the ball, the defense gives up touchdowns at a higher rate in the "green zone" than any other team in the league. This is an alarming stat for a team that is in the thick of the playoff chase.

Sticking with the defense, the Giants need to stop people on third down. They are allowing drives to be sustained on third and long conversions which has two adverse affects. By the fourth quarter the Giants weakened defense is absolutely gassed and the offense doesn't have enough time to establish their ground game. The Giants are a tough team to stop when Tiki gets his touches, which also opens things up for the playmakers on the outside.

Aside from getting touches for Barber, the talented TE needs to be integrated early in games. With Manning clearly still feeling the loss of Amani Toomer, Shockey should emerge as his security blanket. As with establishing the run, getting number 80 involved in the middle of the field will open up more room for Burress on the outside. It is also shocking that Sinorice Moss has not been given an opportunity to make plays. Reports suggest he's unfamiliar with the playbook, which if true is inexcusable. However, if it's not, it's hard to imagine why a struggling offense has not looked to its best home run threat for a spark. With RB Derrick Ward being placed on Injured Reserve, he might also get a chance to resurrect an awful kick return unit. It may just be optimism, but I really think Moss could be a huge part of the solution in fixing an ailing offense.

With two games to play the Giants still have a chance. In the eyes of late owner Wellington Mara, if you have a chance at the playoffs in your last home game then the season has been a success. However, with the expectations heaped on this team in the preseason, making a run in the playoffs is the only thing that will satisfy the fans. The surge must begin this weekend in Tiki's finale at the Meadowlands, but hopefully won't end until February.

Daisuke Who? Yanks Make Kei Signing

While bitter rival Boston spent over $100 million to bring Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka to Fenway, the Yankees made a splash of their own in the Far East by agreeing to terms with left handed pitcher Kei Igawa. It is a deal reported to be worth $20 million over five years, but that cost jumps to $46 million if you include the posting fee. Igawa is expected to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation with Carl Pavano, but his signing could be more of a demonstration that the Yankees view Pavano as an expendable commodity. It has not yet been made official, but there are no foreseen circumstances that would disrupt the agreement. With the addition of Andy Pettite, Igawa could potentially give the Yankees three left handed starters to stifle Yankee killer David Ortiz and newly acquired Red Sox JD Drew.

Although Igawa does not have the upside of Matsuzaka, he performed admirably throughout his career in Japan. Last season with the Hanshin Tigers he pitched to a 14-9 record with a sub-3.00 ERA and 194 strikeouts. He's only twenty seven years old, and in a worst case scenario, could be a huge upgrade in the bullpen. While the Yankees are certainly not spending $9 million per yer on a glorified set up man, it could be a path they explore if a healthy Carl Pavano shows up in the spring. He also gives the Yankees some youth in an aging starting rotation. With back of the rotation left handed starters such as Ted Lilly getting $10 million a year in the crazy market that has been established this offseason, this could be a very smart investment for the Yankees.

Fallout from the Brawl

As Bill Parcells likes to say, "put away the annointing oil". Just as NBA fans and experts were accepting Carmelo Anthony as an equal in the triumvirate (with Dwayne Wade and LeBron James), the NBA's leading scorer will start serving a 15 game suspension for his involvement in Saturday night's brawl at Madison Square Garden. The penalty was handed down earlier today when Commissioner Stern took another hard stand on cleaning up the image of his league. Teammate J.R Smith received ten games, as did Knicks guard Nate Robinson. Also receiving suspensions were the Knicks' Mardy Collins (6 games), Jared Jeffries (4 games), Jerome James (1 game), and the Nuggets' Nene (1 game). Along with the suspensions, both teams were fined $500,000 for their respective roles in the confrontation.

The "MSG Melee", as the media is trying to hype the brawl as close to the "Malice at the Palace" as they can, should be evaluated on several different levels. First, the involvement of Anthony escalates this issue in the eyes of NBA brass. The gifted class of '03 has become the face of the league. While James and Wade were quicker to gain elite status in the NBA, Anthony rose to prominence with a brilliant performance at the World Championships. That momentum carried in to the season where he is leading the NBA in scoring. Along with his sparkling play, Anthony began to erase the off-court issues that had marred the success he acheived in his first three seasons. He displayed his generosity with a $3 million dollar donation to his alma mater to build new facilities in Syracuse and by laying the foundation for a new recreation center in his original hometown of Baltimore. In the conference call Stern held to defend the league's actions he emphasized the punishment dealt strictly with Anthony's on-court actions. He continued to say he'd been proud of Carmelo's recent progress and felt that Saturday was not a proper reflection on the person he has become. Unfortunately, the league's actions will cost the Nuggets star fifteen games which could have the following repercussions. Despite averaging over 30 points a game, the extended absence could cost Anthony his first appearance at an All-Star game. Aside from the financial benefits he would receive from such an honor, it will deprive him of his first chance to take his place among the game's elite. From a team stand point, the Nuggets are 2-9 (entering tonight) without Anthony since he's entered the league. Currently they are holding the seventh seed in the Western Conference, but could lose ground in his absence. Anthony and J.R Smith were becoming one of the league's better 1-2 punches as the young Smith has found his rythym in the Rockies. Smith, the McDonald's High School All-American Game MVP from 2004, has rediscovered the great range and flashy athleticism that made him highly coveted out of high school. He will be replaced in the starting lineup by defensive star Yakoba Diawara and Linas Kleiza will assume Anthony's power forward duties. Although Coach Karl now faces an uphill battle, he claims no responsibility for the actions on Saturday night. He assigns that blame to Knicks coach Isiah Thomas.

Coach Karl is not alone in placing fault on the Knicks head man. Thomas, a member of the famous "Bad Boy" Pistons teams of the '80s, has never shied away from the physical nature of the NBA. His on camera warning to Carmelo Anthony and post game complaints about the Nuggets' questionable personnel decisions late in the game paint a pretty clear picture Thomas is no innocent bystander. However, this situation goes much deeper. Many believe Karl came to New York to defend good friend, and fellow UNC alum, Larry Brown's honor. This belief fueled Isiah to think Karl looked to run up the score, and it appeared that way with the Nuggets holding a secure double digit lead in the final ninety seconds with their stars still in the game. When Isiah told Anthony it would be a good idea to stay away from the paint with a devilish grin on his face, it is evident Thomas either knew his players were looking for a hard foul or personally ordered flagrance. However you slice it, Thomas needs to shoulder some blame. Anyone who's ever watched an NBA game knows flagrant fouls do not just die easily, so if Thomas specifically ordered the harmful foul it is unfathomable that he will go unpunished. As recently as November of this year, Thomas has been involved in bizarre on-court incidents. His high intensity as a player and now a coach often translate in to inappropriate displays on the court. Both teams were assessed a $500,000 fine but David Stern claimed it was a matter of setting a precedent. He wants to hold teams accountable in the future for the actions of their employees and said that the circumstances surrounding this particular incident did not play in to the levying of this fine.

When a group of competitive athletes get in to the heat of battle, there's always the possibility of extreme escalation. Fighting has always been a part of sports, but seems to be put under the microscope when on the basketball court. The biggest reason is the proximity to the fans. Unlike any other sport, fans are closer to the action in basketball than any other sport. There is an innate intimacy to sitting on the court, so when fighting erupts the spectators are perceived as being in real danger. If the criteria for handing out harsher penalties is keeping the fans safe, how come J.R Smith and Nate Robinson did not bare the brunt of the suspensions? The two of them wrestled in to the first few rows behind the basket and were most responsible for putting fans at risk.

For now, both teams will have to spend the holidays with a shortened bench. The Knicks are heading nowhere fast and the Nuggets severely complicated their hunt for a coveted Western Conference playoff berth. From an individual standpoint, Carmelo Anthony took a huge step backwards after an offseason littered with progression. He has handled a lot of adversity in his young career and hopefully will bounce back even stronger after this ugly incident.

Giants-Jags

Amidst massive media attention questioning whether Eli is the right "mann" in New York, the Giants young QB made a lot of pundits look brilliant in posting his second consecutive miserable game. The loss can not be solely thrown on the right arm of Manning, but he must shoulder a good portion of the blame. Worst of all, he looks to be suffering from a lack of confidence. On many occassions in last night's game Manning looked reluctant to pull the trigger. When he did manage to get his throws off, many balls were simply not thrown in the right places for his playmakers to make something happen. It's hard to imagine he hasn't been distracted by the multitude of experts who have labeled his draft day acquisition as a mistake. The loss of Amani Toomer is certainly taking its toll. By Manning's own admission, the receiver had emerged as a guy he could trust to make a big play. A few things about last night's disappointing loss really stuck out:

Where's the emotion? It seemed ironic on the night ESPN did it's feature on "Ballin", the Giants defense attempted no jump shots. Many purists would point to this is as a good thing, but it's not a matter of being a fan who enjoys celebrations. The defense had rallied around the group effort; it became a unifying force that provided a huge spark on both sides of the ball. Although the defense had little to cheer about last night, it was a clear demonstration that for some reason the Giants were playing with no emotion.

Not capitalizing early. After a fumbled snap that pinned the Jags deep in their own zone, the Giants started their first possession at the Jacksonville 30 yard line. A short run and an offside set the Giants up with a 2nd and 3 at the 23. Manning drilled a ball in to the ground on an easy swing pass to Tiki, then overthrew Plax on a deep ball. Feely converted the 40 yard attempt, but on the road against a tough team you need to put more than three points on the board in that situation.

Play Selection. While the final score wasn't indicative of how poorly the Giants played, it also does not demonstrate how close this game remained throughout. Despite that, the Giants, as they so often have, abandoned the run. Although ineffective, Barber needs more than ten carries. Of those ten, several were on second down draw plays that fooled no one and most of the others were just poorly timed. He never had a chance to get in to any sort of rythym, which is inexcusable in a game where your quarterback is struggling. His sore thumb clearly affected his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, but he should have been given more opportunities in more suitable running situations. The coaching staff also needs to find ways to get #80 involved early in football games. It is well known that the offense is a far better unit when their gifted TE is getting early touches. Especially with no receivers stepping up in Toomer's absence, there is no reason Shockey is not getting the football.

Lack of a Pass Rush/Big Cushion on Receivers. The impact of Strahan and Umenyiora's absence has been monumental in the pass rush. Forcing William Joseph to move outside not only depletes their depth in the middle, but poses no speed threat off the edge. It is also becoming apparent that Sam Madison has been the best corner on the defense. Corey Webster is routinely giving "Dave Thomas-esque" (not the Wendy's guy) cushions on his receivers. This is not a problem when faced with diminutive speedsters such as Santana Moss, but to be giving the big receivers on Jacksonville that much space to make catches is ridiculous.

Did Shiancoe's cheap shot on Donovin Darius spark the Jags? It may have, and the team had every right to be mad. The more notable reason to look at this situation is how Darius' backup filled in admirably. Much is made about the Giants losses, but the reason they're made to look worse is because many of the fill-ins have played sub-par ball. For Jacksonville, Gerald Sensabaugh came in and performed brilliantly. Across the field, Tim Carter turned the ball over as the Giants were heading in for a score, Barber had to stay in the backfield to protect Bob Whitfield, Reggie Torbor had an opportunity to kill a Jaguars critical late game drive but failed to wrap Garrard up, and the two fill ins at defensive end failed to produce a pass rush. In short, the starters are sorely missed.

Tuck loses season to foot injury

Luckily for the Giants, there is no cap on the number of players on the Injured Reserve. Unfortunately, that is one area on a football team where you do not want depth. The Giants announced today that DE Justin Tuck will miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on his foot. He has not officially been placed on IR, but should be in the immediate future. Tuck provided great depth on the defensive line and performed well on special teams.

In other injury news, General Manager Ernie Accorsi said LT Luke Petitgout will not be placed on IR. The Giants are optimistic that he could return at the end of the season. Accorsi claimed Petitgout is a quick healer and should be available in six weeks. The way Bob Whitfield has been playing, fans can only pray for a quick recovery. The much maligned Petitgout had cut down his penalties this year and performed admirably protecting Manning's blindside. Whitfield had been considered a capable backup, but struggles in consecutive weeks with Mario Williams and Alex Brown would suggest otherwise. There has been talk of shifting Rich Seubert inside and moving David Diehl out to tackle. It would be ashame to halt Diehl's progress at guard, be has the size and quickness to move outside. He's made the transition before and handled himself well at tackle. Another option that has not been discussed is simply inserting Seubert at left tackle. He's been a career interior lineman, but the Giants have used him as a second blocking tight end for most of this year. It's not unreasonable to think he could handle an outside rusher, but obviously management would have a better idea about this. The Giants also have fourth round selection Guy Whimper who was presumed to be the heir apparent to the LT position, but he is too raw and inexperienced to throw in to a playoff race. With Tyson Smith's promotion to the 53 man roster the Giants added T Jonathan Scott to the practice squad, but it is highly unlikely he would be an option.

With all of the injuries the Giants have suffered it is hard not to reflect on the big buzz out of training camp: this was not a typical Tom Coughlin camp. Everyone was raving about the softer, more laid back Coughlin and a less strenuous workout schedule. However, many injuries can be blamed on lack of conditioning. Obviously accidents such as a Bears defensive lineman rolling over Petitgout's leg can not be attributed to stamina, but it certainly seems to be an alarming trend after a relaxed camp. The Giants are on the verge of being destroyed by their growing list of walking wounded and it seems that more people should be held accountable.

Boston Wins Rights To Negotiate With Matsuzaka

On Tuesday evening MLB officials confirmed that the Boston Red Sox posted the highest bid to the Seibu Lions for the rights to negotiate with prized pitching ace Daisuke Matsuzaka. The winning bid exceeded earlier reports and is reported at $51.1 million dollars. For those counting at home, this is roughly $40 million more than the Seattle Mariners spent to acquire the rights to negotiate with Ichiro Suzuki. Everyone seems to think Boston will come to an agreement with Matsuzaka and it was Major League Baseball's duty to make sure no "block bids' were made. However, I find it unfathomable that the two sides will agree to a deal after such an exorbinant bidder's fee.

Now that the price has been confirmed, start crunching some numbers. To make the math as simple as possible, assume Boston looks to sign Matsuzaka to a 5 year deal at roughly $13 million annually. If you tack on the $10 million per year to include the bidder's fee, this relatively unproven commodity is being given Alex Rodriguez money at $23 million per year. There's all this talk about his infamous "gyroball" which the pitcher himself denounces as true. Regardless, Clemens' proven Mr. Splitty is worth about $22 million and Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn's terminator was valued at even less. The only way this deal works is if Boras will accept a deal for significantly less than he thinks his client is worth.

Many people are scratching their heads at Boston's decision to break the bank. The major reasons that have been given are expanding their brand to the Far East and blocking the Yankees from making the deal. However, as has been pointed out, they shouldn't expect to profit from this move in the same ways the Yankees and Mariners have with their acquisitions of Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki respectively. Fenway doesn't have the available space in the ballpark for the massive Japanese advertising campaign the Yankees have run, and Seattle's proximity to the Far East makes pledging allegiances to the Mariners much easier. If the anonymous bidding system continues, there's no way to "mark your territorry" so making a signing or two does not make you a favorite in the future. Teams did this in the earlier years with the influx of Latin American talent, but that is made irrelevant with the posting system. In terms of blocking the Yankees, they have succeeded. With the sole negotiating rights, as long as Boston makes a "fair" offer the Yankees have absolutely no chance of adding Matsuzaka to their 2007 roster.

To be fair, Boston does have the money to spend. They're looking to upgrade their pitching staff and GM Theo Epstein knows he needs to win this year for job security. With the high bidding fee, Boras will be forced to accept less money for his client. Matsuzaka will be under intense pressure from the Seibu Lions, his current team, so they can pocket the $51.1 million they desperately need. While Boras has urged his amateur clients to sit out a year to improve their first paycheck, it seems less likely he will allow Matsuzaka to wait until he becomes unrestricted in 2007. Since Boras will undoubtedly have to take less money for his client than he would hope, he'll probably target a short term deal. However, the shorter the length of the contract, the more the team is spending per year on its bidding fee. This is sure to complicate the negotiation process and the deal should be in no way considered imminent. With Boras aiming to set a high standard for free agent pitchers with prominent client Barry Zito hitting the market, I don't expect him to accept a low-ball offer. The 30-day window given to broker a deal should be an interesting one. I still strongly believe Matsuzaka will not become a Red Sox, but stranger things have happened. If he does come to the states, Yankees fans are surely hoping for the second coming of Hideki Irabu.

Sheff Cooking Up Trouble

Only in sports can you find a man so unhappy with making $13 million dollars in one year that he vows to make life difficult on any owner with the audacity to sign his paychecks. Welcome to the sick and twisted world of the Yankees soon to be departed star Gary Sheffield. After the Boss wined and dined the slugger personally, the Yankees signed Sheffield to a 3 year deal with an option year tacked on. After 2 successful years and one injury plagued campaign, the rocket-armed rightfielder is furious the team exercised the option. He has captured the media's attention with his recent rant that targeted Bobby Abreu and presumably Brian Cashman.

Much has been made about Sheffield's unhappiness in the offseason. First he complained about being moved to first base; a move that just a few weeks earlier he claimed to embrace. Once people began to speculate about his future with the team, he announced the team shouldn't pick up his option. When it became evident the Yankees would exercise the option, he made it clear that any team that wished to trade for him would be getting a disgruntled player. Up to that point, it was just Gary being Gary. This is not an unusual charade for him, he's always been perceived as selfish. He tried to erase that image by playing through pain his first two years to win the hearts of many Yankees fans, but his last tirade should close the door on his stay in New York. The fact is, he may be right that he's a better right fielder than Bobby Abreu and that certain Yankees executives are blocking him from speaking to George Steinbrenner. However, it does not change the fact that he is not the best option in the position he wants to play. Abreu has proven to be a terrific fit in the lineup, he can not be moved with the same ease Sheff can, and can give more good years to the organization. Whether or not "middle men" such as Brian Cashman are not allowing communication between Sheffield and Steinbrenner is relatively unimportant. Steinbrenner has been giving more power to his baseball people such as Cash and really shouldn't play a role in this drama.

In response to Sheffield's comments Brian Cashman took the high road with no comments, but team President Randy Levine took the bait. He addressed Sheffield's issues with the team and adamantly emphasized a very important piece of information: Gary Sheffield has no leverage. He does not have a no-trade clause, so anything the organization wishes to do with him they may. His ploy to try and dissuade teams from pursuing him with claims that he'll be unhappy should have very little effect on the market. He even went so far as to name destinations he would be happy with as if to draw interest from those teams, but the Yankees will only be looking for the best ways to improve the ball club. Yankee fans will have to respect the hard work he put in, but it will be hard to overlook how bitter the break-up is going. There is absolutely no way the Yankees can hold on to this guy after his disparaging remarks. A Yankee fan can only hope that his bitter feelings towards Yankees brass and his ferocious swing are shipped to a NL team.

Another One Bites The Dust; Toomer lost for '06

Just when Giants fans thought the injury situation couldn't get worse, the team announced WR Amani Toomer will miss the remainder of the season with a partially torn ACL. The news seemed to come as an absolute shock as Toomer returned to the field on Sunday after he experienced pain in the knee. While it is only a partial tear, which meant Toomer could have elected to rehab the knee over surgery, he opted for the procedure that will sideline him until 2007. Toomer's 32 receptions on the year are tied for the team lead and his ability to make clutch plays will be sorely missed. As a long time fan of number 81, we are all hoping for a full recovery so he can add to his many Giants receiving records.

If there is any silver lining to this, second round draft pick Sinorice Moss returned to practice today and hopefully will return to the lineup on Sunday. If he can play up to his lofty draft status, he should be one of several players that need to step up in Toomer's absence. Although Toomer's loss should in no way be undervalued, the Giants have won despite losses to their receiving corps in the past. The 2002 Giants, that gelled in to an impressive offensive unit that put up 38 points in a playoff game, were down to Toomer and 7th round draft pick Daryl Jones. There are guys behind Toomer on this year's depth chart, and maybe outside options that could help the Giants survive this injury:

Tim Carter: The #2 wideout position should be his to lose. The Giants 2nd round pick in 2002 has never lived up to expectations. However, he has stayed healthier this year and could be a major weapon with his downfield speed. It is disconcerting that he failed to come up big against an overmatched Texans secondary this weekend, but he should be given every opportunity to fill the void. He has big-play ability, good size, and a good knowledge of this offense.

Sinorice Moss: General Manager Ernie Accorsi traded up to obtain the rights to the former Miami star in the 2006 draft. The organization has high hopes for the diminutive speedster and younger brother of Giant rival Santana Moss. He has only seen the field in one game this year, tallying one catch for four yards. Moss has been hampered by a quadricep injury he suffered at the NFL Combine in February. Widely considered as a top 3 receiver in this year's draft class, and by many as number one, Moss' big play ability would be a tremendous addition to the offense. Like Carter, should be given ample opportunity for additional reps.

Michael Jennings: Jennings has made the most of his oppotunities since his surprise addition to the 53 man roster out of training camp. The flashy, former track star from Florida State had no previous NFL experience but showed a knack for making big plays in the preseason. He has been used in many of the ways Giants fans expected Moss to be used, with short passes and some end-arounds. Outproduced Tim Carter in last week's 14-10 win over the Texans, but will probably remain lower on the depth chart.

David Tyree: The Giants special teams ace has battled injuries all year and the organization seems content with maintaining his current role. When given extended time as a receiver, Tyree has been impressive. In last season's finale against the Cowboys he lead the team in receptions and scored a touchdown. When Burress missed the second half of the Seahawks game, Tyree again became the main target. He does not possess the speed of Carter, Moss, or Jennings, but he may be more willing to make tough catches in traffic. He would be a good fit as a possession receiver, but it does not seem likely they would risk tiring him out on offense with his special teams prowess.

Anthony Mix: Mix is currently on the Giants practice squad, but spent the entire offseason with Big Blue. He impressed coaches and executives with his stellar play in spring mini-camps, but did not see a lot of action in the preseason. Unlike the receivers on the current roster, he has great size. Listed at 6'5'', it came as a shock to many prognosticators that Mix went undrafted in the 2006 draft out of Auburn. However, it seems unlikely with all the injuries on defense that the team would promote another Wide Receiver. If they do decide to add a receiver, Mix could be an intriguing option.

Charles Rogers: Admittedly, this one is a huge stretch. As previously mentioned, I do not envision the Giants adding a receiver to the roster. However, why not give this guy a look? I'd be remissed, and certainly abused by my college roommate, if I did not mention that his commercials alone warrant him getting a look. We all know his college stats, he's Charles Rogers, he had 68 catches and 13 touchdowns. He showed promise in the NFL before missing time with various injuries and could rejuvenate his career in a new environment. The chance to play for a Super Bowl contender could bring out the best in the former #2 overall pick in the draft. Also, playing alongside fellow Michigan State Alum Plaxico Burress could be a terrific opportunity.

Ocho Cinco owes Five Grand

The "No Fun League" has again lashed out at its most colorful entertainer, fining Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Johnson $5,000 for wearing a velcro name plate on the back of his uniform that read Ocho Cinco. The name only appeared during pre-game warmups and was ceremoniously ripped off prior to kickoff by Carson Palmer. Johnson plans to appeal, and Roger Goodell needs to rip up that fine slip. Now more than ever, pro sports are seen as entertainment. Commissioners need to have a firm grasp of this and learn to let players be themselves so long as it does not have adverse affects on the game.

Stunts like "Ocho Cinco" do absolutely no harm for the league except when front office members over-react and issue fines. Players such as Johnson are simply conveying how lucky they are to be doing what they love for a living. Ocho Cinco's determination to take down DeAngelo Hall created more buzz than a normal interconference game would have made. Luckily, Johnson seems unfazed. He has already issued a warning for Ray Lewis: I'm going to hit him in the mouth. Who doesn't want to turn in to see the league's toughest player give Johnson exactly what he's asking for? The league is taking too many steps to alienate the common fan. I whole heartedly objected to the virtual elimination of end zone dances and find this recent action against Johnson even more absurd. If a player, such as "the player" in Dallas, brings negative attention to the league by all means dent their wallet. But to continuously come down on a player who does nothing but keeps fans on the edge of their seats is totally wrong.

New "Whining" Rule Ruining Pace of the Game

As David Stern continues to try and clean up his league, he's managed to break the old adage "if it aint broke, dont fix it". Stern's new initiative of stopping players from complaining has proven to be a horrible distraction through the early action. In last night's action several players received multiple technicals and ejections due to the new rule, including high profile players such as Mike Bibby and Rasheed Wallace. While the latter is no surprise as many have dubbed the new legislation as the "Sheed Rule", many other players picked up technicals as the referees strictly enforced the rule.

While I certainly agree that after a certain level of complaining about a call a player should receive a technical, but the way they're being handed out now is ruining the tempo of the game. In the Knicks game guards Stephon Marbury and Nate Robinson each picked up technicals for voicing their displeasure, and rightfully so due to the language of the new rule. However, both were away from the play and did nothing that warranted such a harsh penalty. If this continues to be called with such frequency teams are going to lose players at an alarming rate and the length of the games will be extended unnecessarily. It interrupts the flow of play and players can't be held to such high standards. Forty somethings in local YMCA's can't even keep their mouth shut after some slight contact in a game, how is it fair to expect players absorbing a lot of contact not to ask for a call. Emotions are a huge part of any sport. Asking players to curtail their complaining is one thing, demanding they do not even give the slightest knee jerk reaction is another. The Commissioner's office claims theres a "heat of the moment" clause, but the way it's been called so far has been detrimental to the game.

Knicks Win Opener in Triple OT

Coming off a 23 win campaign, New Yorkers are looking for much improved play from their beloved Knicks. While they gave their fans quite a scare by blowing a big lead, the Knicks managed to survive a triple OT road game in Memphis behind the hot shooting of Quentin Richardson. Much has been made of owner James Dolan's proclamation that coach Isiah Thomas' squad much show significant improvement for him to keep his job. For one night, they played with passion and intensity that was missing from last year's unit.

While the roster remains nearly identical, several of the players seem to be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Center Eddy Curry has been criticized for his inability to stay on the court with foul trouble and not playing to his 6'11'', 285 pound frame. In last night's win he logged 41 minutes with 17 points and 14 rebounds, a great start for the man Thomas compromised the Knicks future for. Small forward Quentin Richardson excelled from the perimeter, drilling all 5 of his three point attempts on his way to 31 points.

A few other things really stood out. First of all, the Knicks deserve a lot of credit for staying in the game early. After Mike Miller drilled his 3rd consecutive three, the Knicks were down 10 early in the game on the road. Last year's team would have packed it in, but they fought back to build a big lead which they maintained for most of the game. Second year players David Lee and Nate Robinson need to be on the floor. Lee made the most of his 30 minutes, scoring 10 points and hauling in 13 rebounds. His motor never stops and he is extremely athletic. Robinson added 14 points in just 18 minutes but still makes some questionable decisions. Regardless, he brings a lot of energy and has a knack for making big plays. The marriage of Franchise and Starbury in the back court will be a rocky one, so the Knicks will need Robinson's ability to change the pace of the game.

One of my biggest problems with last night's game was their inability to close. Not only did the sqaunder a huge lead, their "go-to guy" failed three times to make a shot. Jamal Crawford can be extremely effective coming off the bench, but why does he get the ball every time with the game on the line? I know he has demonstrated an ability to knock down the big shot, but a guy shooting 4-22 from the field should not be given every chance to close the game on that night unless he is your star. Certain athletes, for whatever reason, just don't have the make-up to ask for the ball with the game on the line. It is seen time and again in baseball when effective middle relievers are asked to close, but for some reason can't get the final three outs of a ball game. I applaud the fact Isiah sees this trait in Crawford, but he has not proven himself enough to warrant three isolation plays at the end of regulation and the first two overtime periods. Especially not when you have a guy in Richardson that missed only three shots all night. While Quentin has trouble creating his own shot, thats what you have the fleet of guards in your rotation to do for him.

The Name Game

If you happened to be listening to sports radio yesterday, you might have heard the Philadelphia Eagles reached an agreement with cornerback William James. Unless you tuned in for a little while longer, you may not have realized that James is formerly William Peterson of the New York Giants. Hoping a new name could revitalize a once promising career, the Eagles are excited about their new acquisition.

Peterson teamed with fellow '01 draft pick Will Allen to become one of the most feared CB tandems in the league. People had high hopes for the Wills, as they were dubbed, but their inability to stay healthy and hold on to the football caused optimism to fade fast. Although Allen was the first round selection, many felt Peterson's ceiling was much higher. A third round pick of the Giants in 2001, Peterson's size and coverage abilities made him a rare "shut-down" corner. A series of injuries derailed the rising star who has been out of football since 2004. The Giants finally cut ties with Peterson in the spring after they determined he needed to make a lot more progress before he could return to the field. This move could pay serious dividends for the Eagles if he can shake off the rust and stay healthy.

First Coaches Poll Released- Defending Champion Gators at the top

The pre-season college basketball coaches poll revealed what everyone expected; the defending champion Florida Gators are near unanimous favorites to repeat. Billy Donovan's Gators received all but one of the first place votes and topped the first coaches poll ahead of a talented North Carolina team. Led by 2006 NCAA Tourney MOP Joakim Noah, the Gators return all five starters and introduce a strong freshman class. They are one of five SEC teams in the top 25, tied with the Big East for most conference teams in the poll.

So who can beat the Gators? It's really tough to imagine this team going down after watching them roll to the title a year ago, but there are some teams loaded with young talent that should be exciting to watch. A season ago the Tarheels of UNC made a surprising run to the NCAA's before being dropped by tourney Cinderella George Mason. They enter this season as the number two ranked team in the country. Super sophomore Tyler Hansborough will be the focal point, but should get a ton of help from possibly the strongest freshman class in the country. Lots of pepole are jumping on the Ohio State bandwagon with projected 2007 #1 NBA draft pick Greg Oden in the post, but a wrist injury has him sidelined until January. The Buckeyes grabbed the remaining first place vote and should benefit from what appears to be a down year in the Big 10. It is clear that Oden will be a one and done guy, but can he lead Ohio State to a championship? Aside from the Gators, there are a lot of inexperienced teams at the top of the polls which should lead for a very unpredictable season.

Why A-Rod Will Stay in NY

After another disappointing October there has been rampant speculation about the future of Alex Rodriguez in New York. For weeks Brian Cashman has insisted he wouldn't move his star third basemen. Today brought reports of A-Rod's agent Scott Boras affirming Cashman's claims. It has been suggested that Cashman's insistence was purely to drive up Rodriguez' trade value. Whether you believe them or not, believe this: A major reason Alex Rodriguez will be back in New York is Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Just a couple of days ago the Japanese ace and widely coveted free agent pitcher selected none other than baseball super agent Boras to handle his negotiations. One might suggest that it is impossible to believe that keeping an agent happy is of such priority to a major league team, but evaluate Boras' impact on the sport. Since his rise to prominence, he has almost single-handedly changed the face of the MLB Amateur draft. By continually urging his players to sit out a year or driving his clients demands through the roof, the draft is no longer done strictly on talent and potential. Signability has become a serious issue, brought on most notably by Boras clients such as Jered Weaver. By maintaining a good relationship with Boras and his high profile client Rodriguez, the Yankees would have an inside track on winning the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka. As the Yankees learned, simply outslugging your opponents doesn't work in October and their pitching staff is in need of a boost.

As with other international stars Matsuzaka's Japanese team the Seibu Lions will basically hold a bidding war. All 30 MLB teams are to post bids and the highest will be allowed to attempt to sign him. This is common practice for prized international stars such as fellow countrymen Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. The Yankees and Mariners are among several teams considered to be high rollers in the Matsuzaka sweepstakes. After he impressed many scouts on his run to most valuable player honors at the World Baseball Classic the 26 year old righty collected seventeen wins for the Lions. With the Yankees in such dire need of starting pitching they will be sure to break the bank in efforts to throw pinstripes on the young ace. Although he is a detestable figure in the landscape of MLB, as a "keep Alex in NY" guy I'm thanking my lucky stars Scott Boras represents these two potential key pieces to the Yankees championship hopes in 2007.

Got Melky? Rookie inserted as part of Game 4 shake up

With the season on the line, manager Joe Torre is pulling out all the stops to awaken a dormant offense. Dubbed by many as one of the best lineups in history, the Yankee offense has produced a meager three runs in their two losses. They looked especially meek in last night's 6-0 loss, a product of 7 2/3 innings of strong starting pitching by Detroit's Kenny Rogers and an inability to hit with runners on base. In all but the ninth inning the Yankees managed baserunners, but were woefully ineffective at moving them around. The Tigers, Kenny Rogers in particular, were playing at a much greater intensity level and really seemed to thrive off the home crowd. Losing pitcher Randy Johnson showed great velocity early, but really ran out of gas late. However, as pointed out on the broadcast, he could have pitched a shutout and still would not have won. Although the big knock on this year's Yankees has been their pitching deficienices, the vaunted offense has failed to pick their pitching staff up. Discounting the 5 run burst in the bottom of the third inning in game one, the Yankee offense has scored just 6 runs in the other twenty six innings.

With the glaring problems the Yankees have had offensively, game four will feature a different lineup which hopefully will produce more runs. The A-Rod saga continues as the slumping slugger has been demoted to the eighth spot in the lineup. Rookie Melky Cabrera has been inserted in left field to hopefully prevent Tigers runners from taking extra bases that have sparked their offense in their two wins. Also, Torre is expecting his energy to boost the team the way it did when the offense was without Sheffield and Matsui. Missing from today's lineup is Jason Giambi, who is being benched for low career numbers against Bonderman. However, one has to wonder whether his wrist injury may be the real reason for his absense. Whatever the case may be, Torre's new lineup must produce or the Yankees will suffer their 6th consecutive disappointing playoffs.