Wednesday Walk Around the NFL: 2-4-09

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 4, 2009 7:00 AM EST in New York Giants News

Good Morning Giants fans, it's the first Wednesday of the NFL off-season, and here are some of the stories making headlines around the NFL:

Roger Goodell delivered the "State of the NFL" yesterday.
This was a story I wanted to bring you last week, but my sinuses had me knocked out. Since 1996, 21 Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers under the age of 60 have passed away.
Even when a Cowboy gets elected to the Hall of Fame, there is controversy.
Another day, another mock, this one from Pete Schrager of Fox Sports. His choice for Giants 1st round pick would not surprise me.
Stevie Defense is filling out his coaching staff in St.Louis.
Here's a shock, Pro Bowlers want to keep their yearly free trip to Hawaii.
CBS Sportsline says the Packers are still the greatest franchise of all time.

Final NFL Thoughts:

There is still no one I would rather hear doing a big game than Al Michaels and John Madden. They are still the best in the biz.
Granted, I'm a huge fan, but Bruce put on the best halftime show I've ever seen. Perfect set of songs, great interaction with the band, and energetic as always.

Final Un-NFL Thoughts:

The Rangers did a great job last night with the retirement of Adam Graves Number 9. Nobody does ceremony better than Madison Square Garden. If you didn't get choked up watching Graves' son bawling as Number 9 went to the rafters, check your pulse.
The Mets grossly overpaid for Oliver Perez. I'm sorry, I see no reason to think the Mets are any better than 85 wins.
Remember, next week begins our series on the Greatest Moments in Giants Stadium history. Email your stories and pictures to jrs1940@yahoo.com.

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Rangers did a fine job, but

to say that ANYONE does ceremony better than the Montreal Canadiens is just wrong. It doesn’t hurt that they have a history of winning that rivals the Yankees of course, but they do things just right.

by brisulph on Feb 4, 2009 7:18 AM EST reply actions

I've never seen the Canadiens

put on a show like MSG does, but I’ll take your word for it that it’s good.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 4, 2009 8:10 AM EST up reply actions

Perez

Your right, I don’t see Perez fixing that weak pitching staff.

by BigBlue4Life on Feb 4, 2009 7:55 AM EST reply actions

It's a lot of things

a platoon in LF that has one half (Murphy) who may be the worst LF since Todd Hundley, and another half (Tatis) that they are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle twice with.

a 2B who is as brittle as a matchstick.

A Catcher who can’t hit

An aging 1B who was miserable for most of the first half of the season last year before getting hot. What if he doesn’t get hot this year?

Yes, they got K-Rod and The Putz for the bullpen, but who is going to protect leads in the 6th and 7th?

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 4, 2009 8:15 AM EST up reply actions

They overpaid for Perez

but the fact is, they are bringing back almost the same team as one which would have won around 95 games last year if it had even an average bullpen. Now, they potentially could have one of the best bullpens. I’m concerned about Delgado regressing – so much of their offensive success was based on him. And I’m not expecting much from Tatis, but I think you’re selling Murphy short. He was no Roberto Clemente, but he really wasn’t that terrible out in left (better than Tatis, IMO), and if he can hit like he did last year I see him putting up numbers similar to Ryan Church, which is pretty decent. Personally, I would love to see them sign Adam Dunn or (fingers crossed) Manny, but I doubt that’s happening – the Wilpons seem dead set on not improving payroll. I also would be ok if they signed Sheets on a 1-year incentive laden deal, b/c if he could stay healthy he can be dominant. All that said, I don’t see them as anything less than an 88-win team, and if things break right they could win 90-95 games or so. And I fully expect the Phillies to fall back – there’s no way their bullpen will be as good this year, and their rotation has as strong a chance of regressing as our lineup does. I’m not saying the Mets will run away with the division, but they also won’t be out of until the very end of the season at the latest, much like the last 2 years. Hopefully this year they pull it out.

by cjmulrain on Feb 4, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions

MEMMMMMMMORRRRRIIIIIIEEEESSSSSSS

Like the corners of my mind. Misty water colored memories, of the way…

OLIVER PEREZ KICKS THE YANKEES’ ASSES!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/33565-oliver-perez-shuts-down-yankees-mets-win-subway-series

Save the neck for me, Clark.

by Mr. Met on Feb 4, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down, there.

Weak pitching staff? I don’t think you can call any rotation with Johan Santana “weak”, and now that they fixed their bullpen, I see them doing significantly better.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Feb 4, 2009 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't call that bullpen "fixed"

More like “under major reconstruction”

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 5, 2009 8:43 AM EST up reply actions

If Schrager's right,

that improves the odds of Kiwi going back to LB

by blue gonz on Feb 4, 2009 7:55 AM EST reply actions

Kiwi at LB

would be the only reason to make that move. The Giants have options with how to handle this, and it will be interesting to see what they do.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 4, 2009 8:03 AM EST up reply actions

I don't think

the Giants grabbing a DE in the first round guarantees Kiwi goes back to linebacker. A four man rotation at DE would be pretty tough to defend. Plus, I believe they do line Tuck up inside on occasion.

Remember what Ernie Accorsi said “You can never have enough pass-rushers”.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 4, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

No guarantee, that's for sure, but it does increase the odds

on a Kiwi move. I like cj’s scenario should Schrager’s prediction prove accurate. I can see it happening if the DE is the best player available when the Giants pick.

by blue gonz on Feb 4, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions

I would be happy

if the Giants first 3 picks went the way that mock says they will. Adds more depth to the D-line, gets us a big WR, and addresses a need at LB. I would see them doing a rotation similar to what they did last year, use the rookie DE to rotate Tuck and Osi off the field, put Kiwi back at LB on 1st and 2nd down, and then on 3rd use all 4 of them on the line.

by cjmulrain on Feb 4, 2009 10:05 AM EST reply actions

I hope that you're right

and that Britt is still there at #45.

by django48 on Feb 4, 2009 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

By the way

words can’t express how excited I am to have Osi back last year. Someone else mentioned this on one of the other posts, but I was watching the Super Bowl XLII DVD, and I almost forgot how good he is. His absence hurt the defense in a similar way Plax’s absence hurt the offense – it just took a big weapon away. I heard a stat that the Giants had like 30 sacks in the first half of the season but only 12 in the second half, mostly b/c the D-line just got gassed at the end.

by cjmulrain on Feb 4, 2009 10:28 AM EST reply actions

Osi back 'next' year - not last year!

by cjmulrain on Feb 4, 2009 10:28 AM EST up reply actions

I hate to be disagreeable, Ed, but I guess I am this morning.

I’d much prefer to hear Marv Albert do any game over John Madden and Al MIchaels. I’m not saying those guys are the worst on tv, but Madden in – er – maddening in many ways, especially in his effisive praise for certain of his favorite teams or players, and I find Al Michaels to suffer from a not too mild case of self-important puffery.

Save the neck for me, Clark.

by Mr. Met on Feb 4, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions

It was jrs that wrote it

but I agree with your point nonetheless. Madden WAS the best, but in his old age he’s lost quite a bit. He’s condescending to his audience and his non-stop praise makes me want to puke. I like a color guy that actually gives us insight, which Madden doesn’t do anymore. Michaels I don’t find to be too bad, but I hear you on his ego.

by potroast on Feb 4, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

oops - thanks for the correction

re Michaels – I always feel like he’s searching for that “Do you believe in miracles?!” reprise instead of just speaking from the heart. Lots of announcers have that problem, actually. There must be an announcer hall of fame wing for great in-game calls that they’re all trying to get into. I like Marv because he does that very organically. It seems effortless and he seems like a true fan and fair observer of the games he covers.

Save the neck for me, Clark.

by Mr. Met on Feb 4, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

well see thats the problem....

Is that even with their faults, they are still the best. I’ll still take them over Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Nantz and Simms are ok, but I get a little tired of the “aw shucks” routine from Phil, and I hate listening to Simms do Giants games, because I feel he goes out of his way not to be complimentary to the Giants to not be called a homer.

Honestly, I’ll take Sam Rosen over anyone, but he’s so far down the depth chart at Fox, I never hear him call Giants games anymore.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 4, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

with this. The NFL broadcasting lineups are just atrocious for the most part & I don’t like any of the teams you mentioned, especially Buck & Aikman.

Met and I are in huge agreement on Marv … he’s the man. I miss Pat Summerall (who really carried the Madden team). jrs, I definitely agree with u on Rosen too … I like him a lot and I also like Gus Johnson.

by potroast on Feb 4, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions