Good morning fellow Giants fans. Welcome to the "R" and "D" edition of our news and notes. No, that doesn't have any actual connotation to the Giants, it's a term I came up with while perusing for news this morning--the words "repeat" and "dynasty" are coming up and will keep coming up throughout camp, the preseason and hopefully the regular season. That is logical speculation, too, as general manager Jerry Reese has quietly re-tooled the team and because the Giants have won two of the last five Super Bowls (that never gets old). Of course, we journalists will write those words and will try to egg them out of players' mouths, but it's still fun speculation and not in the least bit uncalled for. Meanwhile, let's have a look at what's going on three days before the start of training camp.
Gleason: Giants must match Thomas' hunger for Super Bowl repeat | recordonline.com
And yet, in many ways, Thomas represents the Giants' greatest challenge as they begin training camp on Friday at the University at Albany. Thomas is hungrier than a Weight Watchers flunky. Teammates must share the same voracious competitive appetite for the Giants to repeat for the first time since the 2003-04 Patriots.
Super Bowl champion NY Giants head to training camp with history in their sights - NY Daily News
It didn’t take long for the Giants to find their motivation for another championship run. That happened in May, in a private room at Tiffany & Co. in Manhattan, just after they got their Super Bowl XLVI championship rings. That’s when Justin Tuck insisted his second ring only made him "that much hungrier" for another. That’s the first time he used the D-word that figures to carry the Giants all year long. "You get there the first time and you’re in awe," Tuck said. "You win the second one and you’re like, ‘Hey, Maybe we can do something here.’
Giants set to embark on another Super season - NYPOST.com
For the second time in four years, the Giants head north to the University at Albany as the reigning kings of the NFL, having secured a Super Bowl victory and eager to lay the groundwork for a repeat performance.
Youth Movement the Key to a New York Giants' Repeat | NFL
No NFL has repeated as Super Bowl champion since the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2005. The last team that seemed to have a shot at repeating was the 2008 New York Giants, but that season went down in flames faster than the bullet went into Plaxico Burress leg. Do the 2012 Giants have what it takes to finish what the 2008 team could not? If they want to, the progression of their young players will be the key.
San Francisco 49ers enter training camp in new role as respected powerhouse - San Jose Mercury News
When the 49ers officially report to Harbaugh's Training Camp 2.0, they'll do so as bona fide Super Bowl contenders. Their Pro Bowl-laden roster has quickly garnered respect. The hype is unavoidable.
I know we all share the utmost respect for that team and expect them to be contenders once again.
Fantasy Football 2012: Victor Cruz Ranked No. 9 Wide Receiver : Sports Videos
All eyes will be focused on the third-year wideout during the 2012 season to see whether or not he avoids the label of being a one-hit wonder in 2012. Last season, Cruz took the NFL world by storm after catching 82 passes for 1,536 yards to go along with nine touchdowns–which is impressive for a player who failed to make a single reception in three games as a rookie in 2010.
I guess I won't be able to snag Victor at the end of my draft like I did last year on both of my teams.
Will the Patriots go 16-0? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The reigning AFC champs are stacked and have the NFL's easiest strength of schedule. But a perfect season? That is a bold prediction for any team.
Fantasy football preview: New York Giants - Houston Fantasy Sports | Examiner.com
It's time to start thinking about fantasy football, and we have started going team by team to let you know what each NFL franchise can do for your fantasy squad.
Giants 2012 Training Camp Preview: Linebackers | Inside Football
Part 10 of our 2012 training camp preview examines the linebackers.
Three Reasons the Carolina Panthers Should Bring Back Jeremy Shockey: Fan's Take - Yahoo! Sports
In the wake of a 2011 season in which Olsen and veteran Jeremy Shockey combined for excellent production at the tight end position, one might wonder why the Panthers have not brought Shockey back.
NY Giants star Tiki Barber marries 23-year-old pinup wife days after divorcing mother of his four children | Mail Online
Controversial and retired NFL star Tiki barber has married his one-time mistress and girlfriend Traci Lynn Johnson in a civil ceremony in New York City. The 37-year-old former New York Giants running back wed 23-year-old Johnson at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau, eight days after the divorce to his ex-wife became final.
You knew I would back-to-back the bits on Shockey and Barber, didn't you?
From Virtual Rings to Virtual Trophies, Mobile Fan Engagement Gets More Real | The Big Lead
The first launch that raised eyebrows was with the New York Giants, who partnered with Goldrun to give their fans a chance to "wear" their newly minted Super Bowl rings and take virtual pictures with the Giants’ Super Bowl trophy.
Five main goals of Giants' training camp | recordonline.com
2012 NFL training camps: An early look at which teams could rise and fall | NJ.com