The Giants will face their division rivals the Philadelphia "Dream Team" Eagles this weekend, in what is sure to be a major test of Coach Tom Coughlin's hobbled squad. But there's still a big question mark over whether QB Michael Vick will be able to start after going down with a concussion last weekend. Even if Vick does play, he will have to face the Giants' newly-minted resident face smasher, Michael Boley. And if Boley was willing to smash one of the Giants' own interns angelic, trusting faces, we can only imagine what he has in store for Vick. more ›

A little after 9:00 am this morning, Plaxico Burress, the former star receiver for the New York Giants, was released from prison. Burress had been serving 21 months for criminal possession of a weapon: Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg when his not-registered-in-NY gun discharged in his pants while he was at a Midtown nightclub. He can now spend time with his wife, son and his daughter, who was born while Burress was incarcerated. It's widely believed that Burress still has some playing years left in him, so naturally, speculation about where Burress will play has already begun. more ›

While Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan is still trying to figure out who will run the huddle come the season opener, Sunday Styles checks in with the real quarterback controversy in town—could Mark Sanchez become the sex symbol that Joe Namath once was in the sixties? The Times says that the Jet rookie is "arguably even better looking" than Broadway Joe. Madison Avenue appears eager to dig its claws into the 22-year-old—how long will it be before he becomes a friend of the mocha frap the way Joe once had an old pal in Ovaltine? But advertisers aren't the only ones who wanna get their paws on the gunslinger who's already done a topless GQ spread and is known to friends as "Dirty Sanchez." The Post says, “Walking sex has a new name. The succulent Sanchez is bona fide cougar bait.” The Times thinks that Sanchez could be in Tom Brady Territory in terms of how his appeal sizes up with the current crop of quarterbacks, adding, "Michael Vick could have had it, but glamour cannot abide dogfighting." more ›

Plaxico Burress is getting ready to for his two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to gun charges by hiring a consultant to help him maximize his time while under medium-security supervision. His lawyer Benjamin Brafman yesterday told the Post, "We are consulting with an expert in the field who will address and advise us, Mr. Burress and his family, on what to expect while incarcerated, and how to use his period of confinement as productively as possible." Michael Vick recently said he was in "the best shape of my life" after being released from two years behind bars and signing with the Eagles. A Corrections spokeswoman said, "Due to his notoriety, there is a potential that he would be placed in protective custody. And those guys are held in single cells, with the exception of a shower, a visit, a medical visit. You're only out of your cell for eight hours a day." Corrections officials will likely be reminding their guards (and chaplains) to avoid any "Foxy Brown-style" celebrity treatment for Plax. Yesterday on his radio show, Mayor Bloomberg said he was satisfied to hear that the football star will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. more ›

Michael Vick might get thrown into the lion's den for his return to NFL action—speculation is that his first snaps back might come at Giants Stadium when the Eagles take on the Jets in the final preseason game of the season. Last night WCBS 2 asked Jet fans there to see Mark Sanchez's debut last night what their thoughts were on Vick's landing in Philly. Reaction was mixed with one fan saying, "I think what he did is completely heinous, but you can't crucify someone forever," while most took the predictable route of "Glad he's with the Eagles. I hate the Eagles!" As for Vick's new division rivals, the Giant defenders seemed to welcome the added competition of facing the speedy QB. Justin Tuck said "hats off to (the Eagles)" and Osi Umenyiora even said he was "proud of that franchise" for having the "cojones" to sign the tarnished superstar. Vick was on the field for the first time today practicing with the Eagles, who may utilize him in the "Wildcat" formation. Coincidentally Big Blue spent yesterday practicing their defense against the Wildcat. more ›

Yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles signed controversial quarterback Michael Vick to a one-year deal. Vick was suspended from the NFL after being convicted on federal dogfighting charges in 2007; he served 18 months and was conditionally reinstated to the NFL this summer (NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will decide whether to reinstate him as early as week 1 or as late as week 6). The Eagles will introduce Vick at a 10:30 a.m. press conference; his "surprise" deal is worth $1.6 million in 2009, with an option for $5.2 million. Recently, Vick was spotted in Chicago, working with the Humane Society to advocate against dog fighting. Vick's interview with 60 Minutes will air this Sunday—he told NFL Today's James Brown that dogfighting is "wrong …I feel, you know, some tremendous hurt behind what happened. And, you know, I should of took the initiative to stop it all…I didn't - I didn't step up. I wasn't a leader." The Giants are scheduled to play the Eagles on Nov.1 in Philly and on Dec. 13 at the Meadowlands. Update, 11:02 a.m.: The press conference just started and is streaming live at the Eagles website. more ›

Eli Manning and the Giants have agreed to a contract extension that should keep Eli with Big Blue for the bulk of his career while turning him into the highest paid player in the NFL. With Manning's original contract coming out of the draft set to expire after this season, the Giants inked him to an additional six years, worth $97.5 million—not bad for the 14th highest-rated QB last season. more ›

A video showing Mets star pitcher Pedro Martinez at a cockfight in the Dominican Republican briefly surfaced online, outraging some people. Cockfighting is a popular - and legal - sport in the Dominican Republic, but it's illegal in almost all of the United States. more ›

More trouble for the Knicks: Captain Stephon Marbury was missing from the morning shootaround in Phoenix, where the Knicks are set to play the Suns tonight. Marbury's apparent absence comes after coach Isiah Thomas may have told him he wouldn't be starting tonight and a Daily News article suggesting that the Knicks were thinking about a Starbury-less team in the future. Coming off a bad loss in Miami where Marbury threw the ball away in... more ›

The Giants are heading south to play Atlanta this evening and the Falcons won't have their star quarterback, after Michael Vick was caught running a dogfighting ring out of his Virginia home. It turns out that New York City might be the nation's dogfighting capital though. The New York Post reported yesterday that Bronx resident Ralph Reyes runs an unlicensed kennel out of the basement of a residential walk-up building on Valentine Ave. That's where he allegedly breeds and supplies American Pit Bull Terriers for fights to the death. more ›

Tonight we will get a good measure of exactly what the Giants are. Heading to Atlanta and facing a bad team on the road is a dangerous spot, the potential is there to underestimate your opponent and ruin your chances at an easy win. more ›

With unseasonable weather descending upon much of North America, schools getting ready to reconvene, and sports seasons getting exciting, it's a busy time of year for us here in the Ist-A-Verse. Luckily, even with all the things we have to do, we still managed to get together to let you know what we've all been up to. more ›

New York Knick Stephon Marbury spoke to Albany's Capital 9 News and expressed his support for his fellow embattled athlete, Michael Vick, who agreed to plead guilty to dogfighting charges earlier this week. Marbury said:

"I think it's tough. I think, you know, we don't say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dog fighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors. I think it's tough that we build Michael Vick up and then we break him down. I think he's one of the superb athletes and he's a good human being. I just think that he fell into a bad situation."

The AP has this great photograph of a dog named Rocky at the Atlanta Humane Society. The Humane Society explained that Rocky had a #7 Michael Vick t-shirt because the society has been taking donated Vick clothing and using them as rags and bedding. Vick, the star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges related to running a dogfighting ring at his Virginia home. more ›

• Yankees 6, Indians 1: The Yankees played well against the soft part of their schedule and last night, against an actual playoff contender, they continued their recent winning ways (they've won 20 of the last 27 games). In his second start since returning from a May leg injury, Hughes, a key player in the future of the Yankees rotation, pitched brilliantly. He allowed only one run over 6 innings to the AL Central-leading Indians. Equally as impressive as Hughes, if not more so, was Joba Chamberlain who pitched perfect 7th and 8th innings. Chamberlain picked up one strikeout in the 7th before striking out the side in the 8th. The win put the Yankees in a tie for first-place in the Wild Card standings and gave them the same record as the Mets (not that it matters).
• Marlins 4, Mets 3: Perhaps it was the cold weather that pushed Billy Wagner into the blown save territory last night. Wagner, who hasn't exactly inspired confidence recently, blew only his 2nd save of the season. Wagner allowed a two-run double by Hanley Ramirez in the 9th to spoil the return of Carlos Beltran from an oblique strain. Beltran had the go-ahead, three-run homer in the 5th inning, but the Mets were unable to capitalize on a night that the Braves loss.
• Cyclones 4, Doubledays 3: Brooklyn won its third straight game last night by defeating the Doubledays. The Cyclones took the lead in the 7th with a two runs in the inning. Doubledays starter Marc Rzepczynski had a career high 10 strike outs in six innings of work.

What is wrong with people? The director of the Mount Vernon Animal Shelter found three boxes full of kittens (63 of them!!!) on her doorstep. Paula Young believes that the kittens were used as bait during dogfighting in Westchester and possibly the Bronx. She told the Journal News, "It is impossible for one person to have all these kittens, calicos, tabbies, males and females." more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Falling debris at Court and Schermerhorn in Brooklyn, a pedestrian struck at 19th and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan and a homicide on Beach 69th Street in Queens
• Two men trapped in a gated Bronx grocery store during a fire yesterday actually ran into a freezer to avoid the fire; they remain in critical condition.
• Nike is freezing the sale of Michael Vick-related merchandise and suspending his contract without pay, though it did not end the contract. Reebok, which sells team jerseys, is suspending the sale of his #7 Falcons jersey.
• Check to see if you live near one of Brooklyn's Dutch houses.
• Since no one has bid at least $1.5 million on Joe DiMaggio's diaries, the auction house will sell the diaries by the page
• 60% of voters think there needs to be further investigation into Spitzer's staff's conduct regarding ChopperGate and 80% think Spitzer should testify, which means 80% of voters may be lucky, since Spitzer says he might do just that.
• Experience the Container Post by helping PortSide New York move into its new offices (a converted tanker) tomorrow

Animal rights protesters held a rally outside the National Football League's Park Avenue headquarters yesterday to ask for quarterback Michael Vick's suspension from the league. Earlier, the Atlanta Falcons star was indicted on federal felony charges for dogfighting. Here's what the Department of Justice's press release (PDF) said:

According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in an ongoing animal fighting venture based out of a property located in Smithfield, Virginia, from early 2001 through on or about April 25, 2007. The property was purchased by Vick in June 2001. Since that time, the named defendants formed a dog fighting enterprise known as “Bad Newz Kennels” and used the property for housing and training pit bulls used in dog fights. From at least 2002, the defendants and others sponsored dog fights at the property, where participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas, Alabama, and other states to participate. Generally, only those accompanying the opposing kennels and “Bad Newz Kennels’” associates attended the fights. more ›

The Giants showed again yesterday that they are capable of a big comeback. Down 14-3, after surrendering a 90-yard run to Warrick Dunn, the defense tightened and the offense went to work and New York emerged with a 27-14 victory. more ›

The Giant defense woke up last week, holding Washington to only three points. They will need a similar performance this week against Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons. While many knock Vick for his lack of passing ability, he is incredibly dangerous when pressured, escaping the rush and creating big gains with his legs. The Giants defensive ends will need to “stay home” to make sure he doesn't leave the pocket. more ›

The NFL announced the rosters for the Pro Bowl on Wednesday and six local players made it. Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey and David Tyree will represent the Giants while Ty Law will represent the Jets. more ›

The turnover parade was not the worst part of the game for the Jets as they continued to add players to the injured list. Testaverde left the game after catching his toe in the turf, linebacker Eric Barton tore his triceps and is out for the season, and wide receiver Laveranues Coles is having his elbow checked out. Good thing the Jets have the two weeks off, because Gothamist isn't sure if we want to watch them play next week anyway. more ›