I wish our middle of January notebook had things to say about, say, the Giants going to the NFC title game. Unfortunately, our G-men are home watching the games like the rest of us, something that must taste especially bitter as all of the Gang Green talk dominates the sports pages and other media. Of course, talk coming from Antrel Rolle's mouth dominated yesterday, so here are bits of other, less annoying news....
Ravens don't rule out adding Plaxico Burress | National Football Post
"Sure, yeah," Harbaugh said at the Ravens' training complex when asked if he would consider signing Burress. "I don’t know Plaxico Burress at all. I’ve never met him, but we’d consider him. "We’d consider anybody. It would just depend on where he’s at. I’d like to find out what kind of a person he is and see where he’s really at in his life."
I suspect that will be the party line among many teams that need help at the wide receiver position. Speaking of which...
Have the Cowboys soured on Dez Bryant? - NFC East Blog - ESPN
Former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus, who now works for 103.3, recently wondered aloud (on the air) whether Dallas might listen to trade offers for Bryant. ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins posed that question to someone in the Cowboys' front office. "I would think about it," said the source. I think Bryant has way too much upside for the Cowboys to think about trading him, but it's interesting that someone at Valley Ranch is at least open to the possibility. Even if a team offered a top-15 draft pick for Bryant, are we convinced the Cowboys would turn two first-round picks into gold?
Really? I can't imagine Jerry Jones would consider trading his wonder boy, but stranger things have happened.
NFL Giants' Osi Umenyiora Has Successful Hip Surgery, Star-Ledger Says - Bloomberg
New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora underwent "very successful" hip surgery, according to Star-Ledger.com. Umenyiora, 30, had the procedure yesterday to repair side effects from a torn labrum he sustained in 2006, the newspaper said on its website, citing an anonymous person informed of the procedure.
Ex-Giant Denies "Ex" Part to Avoid Arrest - Gothamist
Coney Island-raised Nyan Boateng, a football player who was briefly signed with the New York Giants earlier this season, has been arrested after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in front of Chelsea club Amnesia. And apparently the few weeks he spent at Giants training camp were enough for him to try to use his clout. One source told the Daily News Boateng told the arresting officer, "Oh by they way, I play for the Giants."
Ah, the infamous, "Do you know who I am?" card. Yeah, I played for the Giants once, too. And then my mom woke me up and dragged my 12-year old a** out of bed.
Green Bay Packers news | Green Bay Packers still feel sting of NFC championship loss to New York Giants | Green Bay Press-Gazette
Greg Jennings remembers how sick he felt following the Green Bay Packers’ overtime loss in the NFC championship game three years ago against the New York Giants.
You know how we are afraid we're going to be talking about that Eagles' game for years? Well, I live in Wisconsin, and people still talk about this game ALL THE TIME. You bring up the Giants to them, and they grumble a little, and usually blame Brett Favre for that fateful interception in overtime. Of course, they did exact a bit of revenge a few weeks ago when stealing that last playoff spot from us, and now they are poised to possibly win it all. An all-green Super Bowl? I'm not sure any of us can handle that.
Among Eli Manning's supporters are former star wide receiver Amani Toomer. He also talked recently about how Manning's inconsistency issues have got to stop.
Tuck, Cofield thrilled that Fewell's returning - NFC East Blog - ESPN
New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin didn't want to conduct another search for a defensive coordinator this offseason. He fired Bill Sheridan following the '09 disaster, but his replacement, Perry Fewell, performed well enough in 2010 to warrant interest as a head-coaching candidate. Both defensive end Justin Tuck and tackle Barry Cofield have been unabashed supporters of Fewell. They would've been pleased for him personally had he landed a head-coaching position, but they're ecstatic that he'll spend at least one more season with the Giants.
Would you expect any different reaction? But what strikes me here is that Cofield seems like he really wants to stay with the team, and while that seems unlikely at this point, it's good to know that's where his heart is.
I'll leave you guys with this....last night, Michael Strahan was a guest on Versus' TOCHO Show. It's of course no big surprise that Strahan still has Tom Coughlin's back, but what's real interesting is the banter between Terrell Owens and Strahan about Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler.
May we all now retreat to our hiding places to avoid the "green barrage" going on around us. Have a good rest of your hump day, fellas.