New York Giants News and Notes: Friday Game Face Edition

Good morning fellow Giants fans.  It's the Friday before the Sunday that we face the New England Patriots in Foxboro.  The last time these teams played a game that mattered, it was Super Bowl 42, which, amazingly, was almost four years ago now.  Tom Brady and Bill Belichick remember that game well, and they along with Patriots' fans are still bitter about it.  Rightly so.  We've been punched in the gut watching the Giants lose in heartbreaking fashion enough to understand what that feels like--but that game meant everything as it was the Pats' first loss of the entire season.  Brady laughed when Plaxico Burress predicted the final score to be 21-17 Giants--he laughed at the thought of only scoring 17 points, when in reality it turned out to be 14.  All that being said, the G-men will have to apply pressure to Brady early and often.  And if Ahmad Bradshaw is ruled out, the offensive line and Brandon Jacobs will need to step up their game to try and control the clock. 

Source: No surgery for Bradshaw | New York Daily News
The best way to describe the status of Ahmad Bradshaw right now is "uncertain". One thing does seem certain, though: He will not be having surgery on his injured right foot – at least not now. According to a source familiar with the situation, Bradshaw has decided against surgery for now, as he hopes instead to push through the pain of yet another broken bone in his foot. How soon he’ll be able to do that, or how successful he’ll be, isn’t known. The source who said that surgery won’t be needed said the injury is "minor." It was significant enough, though, to cause swelling and soreness on Monday and keep him out of practice the last two days.

New York Giants' Ahmad Bradshaw has fractured foot - ESPN New York
A source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the injury is not considered serious and that Bradshaw "should play Sunday" against the Patriots. The source said that surgery will not be necessary, and coach Tom Coughlin said no decision has been made regarding the need for surgery at some point.

Well, there you go.  I have a feeling you shouldn't play Bradshaw in your fantasy lineup this week, and that he could even be a game-time decision.  At least we know that he won't have surgery immediately, and it's encouraging that he might play at all Sunday.

This might be the last shot for NY Giants running back Brandon Jacobs when he faces New England Patriots - NY Daily News
The biggest man in the Giants’ backfield has been mostly a big noisemaker the last 2 1/2 years. He has cursed out fans and reporters, thrown his helmet into the stands, complained often about his role and whined that his days with the Giants were numbered. Throughout all that discontent, Brandon Jacobs’ one common theme has been the familiar line he gave a magazine last week: "I just can’t wait to get a true opportunity to get out there and show myself again," Jacobs said. Well guess what, big guy? Your opportunity is here, and if you’re not careful, this chance to fill in for the injured Ahmad Bradshaw might turn out to be your last chance in the league.

I love this piece, and Ralph is right on the money with his assessment -- that this is when Jacobs needs to lead with his play and not with his mouth.

For New York Giants, stopping would be a giant step - Sports - The Boston Globe
The memories are sweet indeed. Tom Brady on his back five times in the Arizona desert, cussing out his would-be protectors. Jay Alford sacking him on the final drive that never was, the last-gasp heave to Randy Moss that went uncaught, the ball going over to Eli Manning for a triumphant kneel-down. The reality is that for most of the Giants defenders, those memories are secondhand. Only five were in uniform when New York won Super Bowl XLII, and they’re in no mood for a "Happy Days’’ re-run this week.

ELI'S COMING: Pats brace for Giants QB Manning - Somerset, MA - Wicked Local Somerset
It has become an annual ritual for the New England Patriots. The Patriots are readying themselves for this year’s game with a team led by a quarterback named Manning who is in the midst of an MVP-level campaign. This time, it isn’t Peyton the Patriots are preparing to face, however; Eli’s coming.

No better time than now for Giants to turn Manning loose - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
With the availability of running back Ahmad Bradshaw an issue now, it's clear where the New York Giants must turn next ... and I'm not talking about Brandon Jacobs or Danny Ware. Nope, it's Eli Manning who steps to center stage. If I'm the Giants, I take the handcuffs off the guy, run the no-huddle offense and let him wing it. Simple as that. Yeah, I know, he might not have Hakeem Nicks or Mario Manningham this weekend. I understand. But I also understand he's going against the world's worst pass defense and has been lights-out in the fourth quarter -- or when there's the greatest urgency.

I don't agree with this.  It sure would be better to do what the Steelers did--hold the ball for two-thirds of the game, and stay in Brady's face all day.  Having Manning run the no-huddle, perhaps without Hakeem Nicks and/or Mario Manningham, would be dangerous and also would not eat up enough clock.  What do you guys think?

Victor Cruz, the New York Giants' breakout star, is a long way from UMass | masslive.com
New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin just laughed. He didn't mean to be rude or dismissive, the answer was just too obvious. What does wide receiver Victor Cruz bring to his offense? Well ... everything. "I think all you do is look at the tape," Coughlin said.

Cruz has certainly been a pleasant surprise, and one of the most electric players the Giants have fielded in recent memory.

The Best And Worst NFL Owners - Forbes
Since they took over control of the New York Giants in 2006 from their fathers, John Mara and Steve Tisch have presided over 33 percent growth in the value of their team – best in the NFL. The 2010 opening of MetLife Stadium helped them rack up a 21 percent bump in revenue last year, the latest achievement for an ownership duo that also lifted the Lombardi Trophy in 2007 for the organization’s third Super Bowl victory.

So here we go, fellas.  I, for one, feel better when the Giants are underdogs like they are here.  There is oddly less pressure that way, because we are not expected to win.  Still, it's an extremely important one, and winning would make a gigantic statement.  Let's get our game faces on, and let's do this thing.