Storylines I'm already tired of

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 7:24 AM EST in News Comment 21 comments

Here are five New York Giants-Green Bay Packers story lines I am already tired of. If you aren't tired of them now, I think you will be by kickoff Sunday night.

5. Giants better without Barber -- I'm sure ESPN and other media outlets will dredge up all the tired Tiki Barber stuff this week. I don't want to rehash it, and I don't want to hear it. But I probably will have to.

4. The resurrection of Tom Coughlin -- I am sure that Coughlin will be the subject of much conversation this week. Having gone from lame duck to a guy likely to be around for several years, Coughlin has earned the attention.

Ex-Giant Ryan Grant has gone from obscurity to stardom with the Packers. (Getty Images)

3. The rise of Ryan Grant -- The Giants' castoff had an amazing season, gaining 956 yards in basically half a year. The fact that the Giants traded him to Green Bay will be an obvious storyline. With Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw and Reuben Droughns, what choice did they have?

2. Eli Manning -- The rise of Eli in the playoffs. Can he keep it up? The fact that he is still playing and his brother isn't. Eli, Eli, Eli. There will be a million Eli stories this week.

1. Brett Favre -- The man-love from Bristol, Ct., will radiate throughout homes that tune into ESPN all week long. Favre is great, Tony Kornheiser loves Brett's wife, Favre has had a storied career and many fans would love to seem him in another Super Bowl. But, enough already. He's not the greatest player ever in the NFL, nor the only nice guy.

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Ryan Grant

Carl Banks was on the Fan yesterday and was talking about Grant. Like you said, the Giants had no choice but to trade him. One of the reasons he was the one to be traded was because he does not do as many things as Derrick Ward, like return kicks, etc.

Many Giant players said when Grant was traded that he was going to be somewhere and be a good player, but understood why he had to be traded

Its not like the Giants suffered without him

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 15, 2008 8:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No, they didn't

I completely understood keeping Reuben Droughns, because you needed to have at least one experienced back. And they had to keep Bradshaw. I think getting a draft pick for a guy who wasn't going to make the team was a nice move by Jerry Reese.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 9:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One more thing

This is one of the things that happens when you have a good football team. Sometimes, you have more good players at certain positions than you can keep. Those guys go on and play well in other places. So be it.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 9:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't get the impression

that the press is suggesting it was a mistake to trade Grant. As you say, the team has had an embarrassment of riches in the running back department this year, which in my mind is just one more reason to credit the job done by Jerry Reese and his crew in the scouting and drafting departments. And face it, Grant was an unproven commodity at the beginning of the season. But for that matter, so was Ahmad Bradshaw.

These beat writers have to come up with something to write about on the six days between games. It's not like the other pro sports, which are played almost daily. It's inevitable that certain themes will recur in their stories. There's only so much one can say.

by django48 on Jan 15, 2008 9:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very true

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 9:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

if you think the storylines are going to get old

this week...just wait til the Super Bowl where everyone is praying for a Tom Brady-Brett Favre showdown.

John Madden's head might explode.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 15, 2008 9:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I know

I must just be grouchy this morning!

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What about us?

Not EVERYONE is praying for Favre and Brady in the Super Bowl.

(Yes, I know what you meant.)

by Josh on Jan 15, 2008 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

grant

also if grant is so great than why didnt he begin the year as the packers starting RB? (he didnt, right?)

by DieEaglesDie on Jan 15, 2008 10:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No, he didn't

He was their No. 3 guy, and didn't get to play until the other two guys got hurt or failed to produce. It was desperation time for the Packers. It's not like they expected this, either.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If memory serves...

...he didn't even start at Notre Dame. Julius Jones, then Darius Walker got the bulk of his carries during his time there. There are a million good running backs in the NFL, it seems. How many teams out there have a 1400 yard back gunning on special teams and spending the rest of his time on the pine?

by drunkUncle on Jan 15, 2008 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True

It's all about opportunity. Ahmad Bradshaw is a great example. If Derrick Ward hadn't gotten hurt, as good as Bradshaw is, he would still be inactive most of the time. Also, Domenic Hixon. Look at how good of a kick returner he is and he didn't get a chance to do that until the Patriots game.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 11:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One more tired storyline =

The Weather. Dr. Z was already bleating about it today, saying the Giants won't be able to rush Favre if there's snow. And can Eli play in the cold? Blah blah...

by drunkUncle on Jan 15, 2008 11:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Weather

I also love that they think they knew yesterday what the weather is going to be Sunday. Give me a break.

by potroast on Jan 15, 2008 11:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know why your grouchy

You don't get to "research" Jessica Simpson photos this week. ;)

As storylines go, these aren't that bad. They've got to fill the time, and for people who don't live and breathe football (I know it is hard to believe, but there are some people like that) these stories aren't old.

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by NYERinSF on Jan 15, 2008 2:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ah, yes

That's it! Jessica withdrawal. No Packers cheerleaders, either, but I do have a little something for you guys on Thursday.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It better not involve Wranglers, Ed.

Seriously.

by Mr Met on Jan 15, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jessica Withdrawl?

Thanks - now I've got to get my mind off that image. -

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by NYERinSF on Jan 15, 2008 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, man!!!

Did you really have to go THERE? LOL

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2008 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ryan Grant

Can't help but expect that the Giants have an edge on knowing how Grant ticks.

by johnd134 on Jan 15, 2008 5:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Grant

might have gotten a closer look at starting if he hadn't fumbled with under two minutes in the Minnesota game when the GBP were trying to kill the clock. He wasn't in training camp either. He didn't get picked up until the week of final cuts. He probably didn't have a good handle on blitz pick ups and the rest of that crap. Don't let anyone one fool you, though. NO ONE thought he would become what he is today.

by packfan on Jan 16, 2008 3:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs