Anybody Remember Kent Graham?

by Max Schwager on Nov 30, 2011 6:06 PM EST

Plenty of story lines will center on the last undefeated team the Giants took down, but if Giants fans are searching for optimism, one should think back to 1998, when a Giants team mired in mediocrity took down the 13-0 Denver Broncos (who would go on to win the Super Bowl that year). Graham connects with Amani Toomer for a game-winner, and with a 20-16 victory over Elway's Broncos, the Giants move on to finish the season 8-8. Let's not forget that this Broncos team was stacked: John Elway, Terrell Davis, and Shannon Sharpe, to name a few.

This Giants team is different, and many people think that it is still playoff caliber. However, the 6-5 record indicates a team with some problems. Yes, I know what you all are thinking. Eli Manning, interception machine, is no Kent Graham. If anything, our defense will have to carry us to victory.

With a couple of big plays on defense (maybe at least one three-and-out this week), and maybe, just maybe, if Eli can step up and fill some Graham-sized shoes, we can get it done on Sunday.

And you better believe Fewell's got those blitz packages dialed up.

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This is sacrastic, right?

It starts out beautifully and goes off the rails right around…

Eli Manning, interception machine, is no Kent Graham. If anything, our defense will have to carry us to victory.

nywins42 needs a new screen name - "nywins46" sounds great!

Just ordered FatHeads for all available Giants. Now I have something to aim at when punching holes in my wall.

by nywins42 on Nov 30, 2011 6:40 PM EST reply actions

This

Team TAWD:
The entire 53 man roster of the 2011 New York Giants

by The Always Well Dressed... on Nov 30, 2011 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

Sarcastic?

Let’s do a little stat-line comparison:

Kent Graham played in eleven games (started six) in 1998, the prime of his career and the start of his reign in Giants’ lore. The numbers:

Win/Loss (5-1)
105/205 (51.2%)
TD: 7
INT: 5
Rating: 70.8
Rushing: 27 attempts for 138 yards (2 touchdowns)

Eli Manning:

Win/Loss (6-5)
253/402 (62.9%)
TD: 20
INT: 10
Rating: 95.5
Rushing: 26 attempts for 4 yards (1 touchdown)

I italicize the areas in which Graham demonstrates more athletic, play-making ability, as well as a knack for fearlessly winning games.

by Max Schwager on Nov 30, 2011 7:39 PM EST up reply actions

In posting that I realized something

Eli’s stat line, through 11 games this year, is right around his production for the entire season following his Super Bowl run.

2008:

289/279 (60.2%) for 3,238 yards, 21 touchdowns versus 10 interceptions

Talk about a guy who peaked years ago!

by Max Schwager on Nov 30, 2011 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, wow...

And he is doing that without two 1000 yard rushers lining up behind one of the best offensive lines ever. He has younger WRs. Doesn’t have a Spagnolo led defense or the best punter in the league. Eli’s performance this year has been downright brilliant.

nywins42 needs a new screen name - "nywins46" sounds great!

Just ordered FatHeads for all available Giants. Now I have something to aim at when punching holes in my wall.

by nywins42 on Dec 1, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

You sir are an idiot

Kent Grahm isn’t good enough to wear Eli’s dirty jock strap as a hat.

It could be worse. I could be a Jets fan.

by Madhops on Dec 2, 2011 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

I guess it

Sort of sailed right over your head there.

by Max Schwager on Dec 2, 2011 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

Hahaha

Yes, Kent Graham was no Dave Brown.

by CervezaVerde on Dec 2, 2011 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

dave Brown was no Tommy Maddox

Details of the operations of an interstate dog fighting ring were revealed, with some portions involving drugs and gambling. Gruesome details involving abuse, torture and execution of under-performing dogs ... He admitted to being involved in the destruction of 6–8 dogs, by hanging or drowning...
Bye Bye to PF, Spend a draft pick or 2 on LBs (not 6th rounders either, in the first 4 rounds) and find a DC that will actually adjust gameplans in the middle of a game, and use the players strengths instead of forcing them to use weaknesses.

by Simms-McConkey on Dec 3, 2011 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

Eli does not have what it takes to beat undefeated teams

Team TAWD:
The entire 53 man roster of the 2011 New York Giants

by The Always Well Dressed... on Nov 30, 2011 7:22 PM EST reply actions

nice

nywins42 needs a new screen name - "nywins46" sounds great!

Just ordered FatHeads for all available Giants. Now I have something to aim at when punching holes in my wall.

by nywins42 on Dec 1, 2011 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

lol Kent Graham

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Nov 30, 2011 9:44 PM EST reply actions

I had blissfully forgotten all about him

Thanks for the reminder. Next thing you know, someone will mention the other guy from the same era that will make me punch a hole in the wall.

by CCE718 on Dec 1, 2011 8:24 AM EST reply actions

I was at that game.

Good times. It was cold as hell that day and the crowd was great (ah, memories). The Giants had a chance to go ahead earlier in the 2nd half when Gary Brown (yeah, that guy was our primary running back) busted one for like 60 yards, got caught inside the 5, and fumbled into the end zone, recovered by the bad guys. That one brought about one of those patented Giants Stadium crowd noises, the kind that builds and builds with excitement and then climaxes in this spectacular groan of disappointment. There was a lot of that going on in the Dave Brown/Danny Kanell/Kent Graham years.

Mid way through the 4th quarter Terrel Davis ran like 30 yards for a TD (he had a huge game, shocker) and everybody (at least I) figured that was it. Then they went on that game winning drive, capped off by a 37 yarder from Graham to Toomer in the back of the end zone. I remember being surprised to learn that it was only 37 yards because it seemed like Graham had to seriously hurl that thing just to reach Toomer. He probably did.

I was in the upper tier of the end zone where the game winning TD was caught (same one as the fumble), and I remember it took the officials about 10 or 15 seconds to agree on whether Toomer was in bounds or not (seemed like a lifetime). One guy had him in and the other came over to refute, and when they put the hands up after that, the crowd went nuts. My best friend Paul knocked my Giants hat off during the celebration and it fell down like seven rows. Never saw it again.

Amani Toomer instantly became my favorite player after that game. He was only in his 2nd or 3rd year and just starting to break through, and after that season they gave him his pay day, which I remember was lambasted by more than a few NY media members. Good call on that one guys. I had the still frame picture of that catch blown up and it hung in my room for quite a few years (I think Amani was rocking #89 at that point). That’s honestly one of the greatest memories I ever had as a young Giants fan. To be honest, many of my best memories are centered around some of the most mediocre squads the Giants have produced in my lifetime. The combination of being a kid and knowing your team was always fighting uphill made the wins mean so much more. I love my dad for taking me to all those games back then.

by mtcl05 on Dec 1, 2011 9:16 AM EST reply actions

This picture... His first year he wore 81 after wearing 89 in 1996 and1997

Team TAWD:
The entire 53 man roster of the 2011 New York Giants

by The Always Well Dressed... on Dec 1, 2011 10:06 AM EST up reply actions

Always Well Dressed!!

nywins42 needs a new screen name - "nywins46" sounds great!

Just ordered FatHeads for all available Giants. Now I have something to aim at when punching holes in my wall.

by nywins42 on Dec 1, 2011 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

they both looked so shocked

that this play is happening

Team TAWD:
The entire 53 man roster of the 2011 New York Giants

by The Always Well Dressed... on Dec 1, 2011 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

HA...

They do!

nywins42 needs a new screen name - "nywins46" sounds great!

Just ordered FatHeads for all available Giants. Now I have something to aim at when punching holes in my wall.

by nywins42 on Dec 1, 2011 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

MAN I LOVE THOSE JERSEYS AND HELMETS!

by eyerish9299 on Dec 1, 2011 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

It would have been nice to see them rock the 80's throwback this year at some point.

After all, they are honoring the 25th anniversary of the 86 championship team.

Considering every other team in the league wears a throwback at least once, no matter how hideous (cough Jest!), you think they would have broken them out for just one home game…

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next."

by Larry Soprano on Dec 1, 2011 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

same here

I love the 80’s uniform. I really thought they would wear it at least one game for the 25th anniversary. Sadly the only throwbacks we will see this team wear are the…. wait for it…. red jerseys :(

Team TAWD:
The entire 53 man roster of the 2011 New York Giants

by The Always Well Dressed... on Dec 1, 2011 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

Those damn things better be retired

I don’t remember their record wearing them, but they sucked.

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next."

by Larry Soprano on Dec 1, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

when they wore them

from 04 to 07, I think they lost every game

Team TAWD:
The entire 53 man roster of the 2011 New York Giants

by The Always Well Dressed... on Dec 1, 2011 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

the 80s throwback is still available in Madden haha

by DukBudr on Dec 5, 2011 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

Never did like those helmets,

or the ones the Jets wore at the same time.

I was glad to see both teams go back to (even if only slight variations of) their old school helmets.

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Dec 3, 2011 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

them Broncos were 13-0 that game.

13-1 after

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'zz SUCK!! Mark Herzlich, Jacquian Williams,...Maybe .. Sadly this has been modified.

by Troy O on Dec 3, 2011 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

You lost me at Kent Graham

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 1, 2011 10:03 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I think the most important part in beating the packers is

scoring first and not playing from behind all game

by AMS30 on Dec 1, 2011 11:55 AM EST reply actions

yes. score more points.

by Simms-McConkey on Dec 1, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

Tampa had them on the ropes

A dropped two-point conversion by Kellen Winslow and a couple of key defensive holding calls (that were visible only to the refs) and the game was given back to the Packers. It reminded me of New England when every bullshit call seemed to go their way at the end of the season to keep the streak alive.

The sad thing is, our offense should be able to score points with anybody, yet we seem to find ways to limit ourselves to about 20-25 points per game (drops in excess, Ballard not pulling down that ball in the end zone, etc.).

Well, if everything comes together, the Pack is beatable. And the last time we played, Eli threw four picks. In theory, we should play a much closer game this year, even if our defense gets shredded.

by Max Schwager on Dec 1, 2011 8:35 PM EST up reply actions