New York Giants News and Notes: Super Bowl Hump Day Edition

Good morning fellow Giants fans. One of the great things about our team being in the Super Bowl is that we get to see writers from all across the country covering them. Instead of regurgitated stories, you have original stories written by top-notch sports writers. Of course, I think New York has the best writers, and at the very least the ones who will give you stories you likely wouldn't get anywhere else. Which brings me to today, the Hump Day before Super Bowl 46, and the media day hype of Tuesday with a gazillion stories to sift through. Here is a sampling of those articles, from New York and elsewhere.....

One-time NY Giant roommate, Nate Collins, marvels at Victor Cruz's path to stardom - NY Daily News
Tuesday, Nate Collins said, "Vic got his chance, and then he just showed the whole world how good he really is. He’s the kind of guy who gives us all hope. He’s the guy playing for all the dreamers in the world on Sunday."

Giants' Victor Cruz rose to surprise stardom after team nearly waived him | NJ.com
"People call it lucky. I say we got blessed with the situation. I’d rather frame it that way," the Giants’ general manager said of the franchise’s new single-season receiving leader, once an overlooked undrafted free agent. "I’m happy for the kid. He’s a local, afterthought free agent and now he’s got a podium out there. "That’s beautiful, man. You can’t make that up."

Hello, Hollywood. Need a Follow to ‘Moneyball’? - NYTimes.com
Jerry Reese has arrived at his second Super Bowl in five years on the job as the Giants’ general manager. If he wins it, might he one day be featured in a book that will be turned into a movie and generate a haul of Academy Award nominations?

Vincent Frank: Why Eli Manning will outplay Tom Brady - - WickedLocal.com
there are numerous factors that indicate Eli Manning will have a better Super Bowl performance than Tom Brady. Obviously, this doesn't mean that the Giants will come out on top. It just means that factors and indicators show Manning will outperform Brady. This also increases the Giants opportunity to win their second Super Bowl in four seasons.

Giants coach eyes winning finish
But now the coach, who is treasured by his players, looks to erase memories of one of the most humiliating defeats endured by the Giants with a Super Bowl title on Feb. 5 in Indianapolis. Coughlin's rallying cry of "finish" sprung from a late-game collapse last season against the Philadelphia Eagles that kept New York out of the playoffs.

He's a giant among Giants | TBO.com
There's a popular YouTube video of Jason Pierre-Paul reeling off 14 consecutive back handsprings before the 2010 International Bowl. On Sunday night, the former University of South Florida standout may have an opportunity to stretch that mark — while balancing the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Giants say season turned around in Dallas - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN
That Tuck said these words into a microphone at the Giants' first media availability of Super Bowl week says everything about what's happened since that day in Dallas. They would beat the Cowboys that night, winning a defense-free seesaw of a game when Jason Pierre-Paul blocked Dan Bailey's last-second attempt at a tying field goal. And while they would lose to the Redskins at home the following week to fall back to .500, the Giants seem to feel as though the victory in Dallas was their season's turning point.

Justin Tuck, Michael Strahan talk about the big game – USATODAY.com
The following Q&As are part of a sponsored interview that USA TODAY held with Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck, former New York Giants defensive lineman Michael Strahan and Subway spokesman Jared Fogle.

Perry Fewell's forceful feedback fed fire of Giants' D – USATODAY.com
The Giants lost the next weekend, barely, but the defense showed more teeth against the Green Bay Packers. More improvement came in ensuing weeks with better health. Yet with the defense now in an undeniable groove that has provided backbone to the five-game winning streak that New York will take into Sunday's game, Fewell's out-of-character tirade is viewed in hindsight as a pivotal marker.

Rob Oller commentary: Blackburn answered the call for Giants | The Columbus Dispatch
"We were downstairs playing with Landyn and the phone next to me rings, and Chase says, ‘Don’t worry, it’s only the Giants.’ He was kidding. I laughed and tossed it over to him and he starts talking, and I realized it was a team. Then he hung up and said, ‘I have to get on a plane in two hours.’ " Blackburn grabbed his suitcase — the one lying in the middle of the bedroom floor that was stuffed with one suit, a pair of cleats and some workout clothes — and caught the first flight to New York.

Brandon Jacobs says Plaxico Burress wanted to return to New York Giants - ESPN New York
Asked if Burress had his heart set on returning to the Giants, Jacobs said, "Oh, no question, I know he did. I know he wanted to come to the Giants. We just didn't think it was going to be able to be done financially. But he may be (back) next year, who knows?"

Giants punter Steve Weatherford at home during Super Bowl 2012 media day | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
Weatherford also serves as the Giants holder on field goal and point-after attempts and he received kudos for the way he handled a low snap on the game-winning field goal in overtime of the NFC championship game victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Giants notebook: Linebacker Herzlich hoping to contribute in Super Bowl - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice
Perhaps no story has united the fan bases of the New England Patriots and New York Giants more than that of linebacker Mark Herzlich, who overcame cancer to make the Giants as an undrafted free agent. The former Boston College Eagles star has been out with an ankle injury since late November, but, thanks to a long break before the Super Bowl, has a chance to return against the Patriots.

Giants offensive line's goal: sustain drives – USATODAY.com
If the offensive line performs well vs. New England's defense, which has used more of a 3-4 scheme in the playoffs, that will keep Patriots quarterback Tom Brady off the field for longer stretches and force him to watch counterpart Eli Manning.

New York Giants Kicker Lawrence Tynes Blocks Crowd Noise to Hear Neighbors - Bloomberg
Some complained that the game against the New England Patriots on Feb. 5 will be indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the players wouldn’t have to worry about bad weather. "I wanted to say, ‘Are you kidding me?’" Tynes said in an interview at the Giants’ practice facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey, last week. "But I enjoy the fans’ perspective. They’re the ones who pay the bills, and it’s cool to hear that."

NY Giants linebacker Greg Jones shares Super Bowl experience in diary - NY Daily News
Then I got into the stadium. I remember my first thought when we got inside: I was overwhelmed. It was so cool to do this. It was really, really exciting. There was just a lot of people and stuff. Not all those people were there to interview me, but I was still very, very excited. I took a little video of the scene here and there, but that was about it.

John Mara's mother, Ann Mara, who told off Terry Bradshaw for not picking NY Giants, will be at Super Bowl XLVI - NY Daily News
Ann Mara is no longer "probable" for Super Bowl XLVI. Her status has been elevated to definite.

We are four days away, everyone. Get your game faces out and ready to put on. It's almost GO time, but first, a few more days of hype.....