Results tagged “osiumenyiora”

The Giants will face significant challenges in 2009, but they certainly have the talent to return to the Super Bowl. The biggest obstacle to that quest will be at wide receiver. Plaxico is gone and Amani Toomer didn’t make it out of training camp in Kansas City. That leaves Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith as the starting receivers, two players with only 109 catches between them in their careers. If that pair, or someone else like first round pick, Hakeem Nicks, can’t become a dependable number one receiver, the Giants are going to struggle offensively.

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.

The Giants may have won 11 games in a row away from the Meadowlands last season, but imagine how good they would have been had they taken care of business at home? They went 3-5 at Giants Stadium and, for a while, their lackluster play in front of the loyal fans appeared as if it would cost the team its chance at the postseason.

After two days of speculation, given the season-ending injury of defensive end Osi Umenyiora, retired Giant Michael Strahan will stay retired. He told Fox Sports, "I wish I could've had different news for Giants fans, but I've known for awhile I'm done...After long deliberation and throwing around a million scenarios in my head for the past day, I think it's just best if I stay retired," and said he couldn't "commit 100% physically, mentally, emotionally." Currently, the plan is to move linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to defensive end. In other Strahan news, a three-judge panel says his child support payments should be recalculated, because things like diamond jewelry to the children's grandmother and a 10-day trip to the Bahamas for the children's nanny and her family were found to be questionable.

A source tells the Daily News that the Giants have "reached out to Strahan Monday to see if there was any way they could lure him back for a 16th NFL season" now that defensive end Osi Umenyiora is out for the season. Most people think Strahan's return is unlikely--even Giants coach Tom Coughlin said, "His mentality was different last year. The last time I talked with Michael (two weeks ago in Albany) he had accepted his new challenge and was very happy about that." But new Jets quarterback Brett Favre thinks Strahan is the way to go, "If I were a Giant, I'd do whatever I could to get him out and have him back on my team."

With defensive end Osi Umenyiora's knee injury keeping him on the sidelines for the entire season, you can't blame the Giants for trying to make sure they can defend their Super Bowl win. And that may mean asking Michael Strahan, who retired in June, to come back. The Daily News reports that Strahan might come back for "$8 million and a few kind words." Strahan, who has a sports commentating gig with Fox, said, "I haven't heard from anybody else, so to say if I would or wouldn't is premature, so I'm enjoying my retired life right now." Also to consider: It'd be pretty damn hard to go out on a higher note than he did.

The Giants Defensive End Osi Umenyiora suffered serious ligament damage in his left knee last night's preseason loss to the Jets and will have to miss the entire 2008 season. An MRI this morning revealed that he has a torn MCL and needs surgery that will require 3-4 months of recovery time. Umenyiora was the only Giant voted into the Pro Bowl during last year's championship season.

Yesterday, the Jets beat the Giants 10-7 in their pre-season meeting (and only meeting until, if they are lucky, the post-season). The new defensive line was great in stopping the Giants, but it wasn't all great news for Gang Green: The Jets' offensive line had many penalties, leading the Daily News to proclaim, "Brett Favre, Jets' offense take step back in sluggish performance."

Saving his team plenty of uncertainty and resulting annoyance, Michael Strahan reportedly announced his retirement Monday. That means the team and the media are saved another dance in which the player hems and haws as he tries to avoid training camp while still collecting a high salary. Now, the Giants will move on with their talented and deep defensive line, anchored by Osi Umenyiora, and will avoid a major distraction when the team reports in July.

After two weeks of hype, Super Bowl XLII is finally around the corner. The Giants have reached the ultimate game with a chance to prevent history by ruining the Patriots' quest for a perfect 19-0 season.

The Giants are going to the Super Bowl! Thanks to a 47-yard field goal in overtime New York defeated Green Bay on the infamous “frozen tundra” 23-20 to advance to Super Bowl XLII.

The Giants are fortunate that Sunday’s game will be played in London. Fortunate because the venue should help them avoid taking the week off against a team that has nothing going for it. The Dolphins are winless and last week lost their best offensive player, Ronnie Brown, for the season. Brown’s injury came two weeks after the Dolphins lost their starting quarterback for the year and to make matters worse, one of their top defensive players, Zach Thomas, was hurt in a car crash and will miss this week’s game.

In a 33-15 game, it is cliché to say that it was closer than the final score, but this game really was. It is even more cliché to say that this game turned on only a few plays, but again, it did. The fact is, San Francisco’s inability to hold onto the football was the key difference in the game.

It’s hard to believe that both of these teams were in the playoffs last year. Entering Sunday’s edition of this strange rivalry the Jets and the Giants are a combined 3-5 and have given up a combined 203 points on defense.

John Madden said it best on the air, “Osi Umenyiora made the Pro Bowl in one night tonight”. Umenyiora turned in one of the greatest games by a defensive end ever, sacking Donovan McNabb six times officially and just missing out on a few other opportunities. And it wasn’t just Umenyiora, the defense had a dominating night. recording 12 sacks and holding the Eagles to only three points in the 16-3 win. Aaron Ross added some coverage to the secondary, Michael Strahan broke LT’s sack record, Kawika Mitchell had a fumble return for a touchdown and Antonio Pierce was everywhere.

Hopefully, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo didn’t buy a house when he moved to New York this off-season. After two games it looks as if Spagnuolo and Tom Coughlin will be looking for new jobs very soon. The numbers are hideous, 80 points allowed in two games, over 800 yard allowed and opponents have completed an astounding 71% of their passes against them, but the visual evidence is even worse. Mathias Kiwanuka looks lost at linebacker. Kawika Mitchell’s play makes you long for the days of Carlos Emmons and Webster and Madison can’t cover anyone.

What we don’t know is exactly who will be under center for the Giants on Sunday. Will it be Eli or Jared? At first glance, this would seem to hold the key to picking the game, if Lorenzen is in the easy assumption is that the Giants won’t have a chance. But, the bigger question may actually be will Osi Umenyiora play? Both Manning and Umenyiora were practicing today, but their status is still unknown.

This was the Eli Manning we have been waiting for. With Brandon Jacobs hurt and the Giants down 17-6, Eli took his team onto his shoulders and proved that he can play quarterback at an elite level. The only problem is that he couldn’t play defense.

Besides the Umenyiora pick, Reese has been widely respected for his work in scouting and was considered in many circles as a potential GM for some time. Since Reese comes from within the organization, that should simply personnel decisions and prevent any conflicts with Tom Coughlin.

The Giants finally caught a scheduling break; they get to play a team as injured and confused as they are. Carolina heads into this weekend’s matchup with their quarterback, both starting cornerbacks and various other players all listed as questionable. To make matters worse, the team has lost two in a row, including a heartbreaker to Philadelphia last Monday night.

In the end, it will go down as a win, but it almost was a disaster. Facing an inferior team, the Giants showed a lack of urgency and suffered some critical injuries as they squeaked by Houston 14-10 Sunday.

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.

Don’t let the final score fool you, the Giants collapsed under the spotlight Sunday. Given a chance to rectify a horrible loss from last year, the New York defense was completely exposed and Seattle had a 35-0 lead before the first half was over.

The Giants return to the playoffs for the first time since 2003 when they take on the Carolina Panthers Sunday at 1pm. Carolina was a popular pick for the Super Bowl before the season started and looked like they would live up to that billing before late season losses at home to Dallas and Tampa. They still finished 11-5 and will present a formidable challenge to the Giants.

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.

There is a lot of pressure heading into the 2005 football season on Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning. Coughlin must show that his authoritarian style can translate into wins and Manning must show that he deserved to be drafted first overall based on his talent and not his last name. Both coach and quarterback showed glimpses of promise last year, but this is the year they must build on it.