Good morning, fellow Giants fans. It's Wednesday, and Eli Manning is still not as concerned about his play as I am. More on that in a bit. The Giants did not look very good on Monday night in what appears to be the starters' final tune-up before the regular season. Thursday night's game against New England might be just a chance for certain players to avoid being cut, and nothing more. Before we get to our hump day edition of Giants-related news, here are a few quotes from Eli Manning's conference call on Wednesday:
On whether there are adjustment issues with Manning and his receivers:
"It's one of those things, they happen. We've been good about seeing them and it's a circumstance where I checked the play and we usually do a pretty good job of fixing protections so those guys don't have to run hots and sights and stuff. On that one, [the Jets] had a blitz. I have to be smarter about it. I saw that they didn't react to it so I just have to throw it in the ground and go to the next play. I think our guys have been solid. They know what the roles are, it's just one of the circumstances that we missed on that day."
On whether the offense is ready for the regular season:
"We're ready. I've never put too much on preseason. Obviously, you want to go out there and perform well and move the ball and score touchdowns. That makes you feel good, but I wouldn't rely on what happens in preseason and what's going to happen in the regular season. We put a lot of effort into the regular season. All of our preparation, put us in the right situations and plays and getting in and out of checks, studying all of the defenses. Preseason, not as much is done."
And when another question was re-phrased with the same question:
"No, I don't think anything's wrong. Again, we've done some really good things. I thought we moved the ball very well the other night. We just didn't finish drives. We had a couple little mistakes that kept us from getting in the end zone, kept us from continuing drives. That's something we have to continue to work on."
You know, Ed and I differ on this. I'm a lot more worried than he is about Manning. It's good that Manning is saying the right things, and much of what he says has merit (i.e. there is more winging it on the field with little preparation). But it's not like the guy hasn't had some practice time, and he had plenty of off-season workouts with receivers that he coordinated. Manning is just off, and if he's truly not concerned going into the regular season, then I am even more concerned about him. Feel free to poke holes in my assessment, but I'm just a tad worried about our starting QB.
Eli Manning, Mark Sanchez lead stagnant offenses as New York Jets defeat New York Giants - ESPN New York
Someday Eli Manning and Mark Sanchez may yet settle the ongoing debate of who's the best quarterback in New York. But it was never going to be decided when the New York Giants and Jets finally met Monday night in their hurricane-delayed preseason game. What became clear very quickly was that neither quarterback would advance the conversation much, either. By the second quarter, you could almost hear Denny Green launching into that old rant of his that still turns up on beer commercials: "They are who we thought they were!"
Coughlin Considering Sitting Starters Thursday | NBC New York
With the short turnaround time forced by Hurricane Irene, Coughlin is considering sitting all the starters, but that's only the start of his worries. The discombobulated practices caused by the ever-changing schedule means that Coughlin is worried that the Giants won't be ready for the season.
Power fully restored to Gillette Stadium, but most of rest of Foxborough still in the dark - The Washington Post
While most of Foxborough remained without power on Tuesday from Tropical Storm Irene, service was back at Gillette Stadium, where the New England Patriots’ final exhibition game is scheduled for Thursday night.
New York Giants team report: Team hopes Kiwanuka a hit at LB - NFL - Sporting News
The Giants hope Mathias Kiwanuka can become the impact linebacker they’ve lacked for many years. A natural defensive end, Kiwanuka shifted to strongside linebacker in the past to get him on the field along with the many pass-rushing defensive ends on the roster.
NFL allows Giants to keep 5 extra because of hurricane; WR Calhoun waived injured - The Washington Post
Because the Giants’ preseason finale is Thursday night in New England, the commissioner says the Giants and Jets can keep 85 players until 4 p.m. Friday.
Tiki Barber reportedly to re-marry - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN
But Barber -- who also is in the midst of trying to return to playing in the NFL after a five-year hiatus -- still has to get free from his wife. His divorce from Ginny Barber is pending in the Manhattan Supreme Court, where the couple has bitterly battled over money issues.
I had to post this article when I saw the line about Tiki having to "get free from his wife." Too funny.
New York Jets' Plaxico Burress, New York Giants' Eli Manning make nice on and off the field - ESPN New York
Guess who Plaxico Burress ran into at the movies on Saturday night? Eli Manning. Who else? Burress and Manning, who hooked up for the game-winning score in Super Bowl XLII when they were teammates with the New York Giants, were able to catch up and chat for a bit, Burress said Monday night after his New York Jets beat Manning's Giants 17-3 in a preseason game at MetLife Stadium.
Landry will miss final preseason game - The Insider - The Washington Post
Washington Redskins strong safety LaRon Landry said there is "no way" he will play in the team’s preseason finale against Tampa Bay Thursday because his strained right hamstring has yet to fully heal. Landry said he still intends to play in the season opener Sept. 11 against the New York Giants, however. The fifth-year pro said Monday that he plans to jog for the first time in 11 days and see how his hamstring responds.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Landry the guy Brandon Jacobs flattened a couple years ago in the season opener? Actually I just corrected myself -- it was Fred Smoot. But in the process of looking for that video, I found this awesome YouTube clip of Jacobs "running over Redskins." I hope you enjoy, especially with the regular season eleven days away.