GIANTS: Strahan Retires

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Super Bowl Breakdown

By: Jason Molinet

Update! Writer

Michael Strahan’s broad, gap-tooth smile is practically a New York icon, on par with David Letterman or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And his kilowatt personality is equally entertaining.

So it was only fitting the NFL legacy of Strahan, one of the greatest sack artists ever, finally caught up with his Big Apple-sized persona. The 6-5, 255-pound defensive end led the New York Giants’ defensive charge that ultimately derailed the New England Patriots’ quest for perfection.

Pats quarterback Tom Brady was sacked a season-high five times and the Giants defense harassed the record-breaking signal caller all night. And once Eli Manning led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, one of the biggest upsets in NFL history was complete.

The Giants walked off the field at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., a 17-14 winner over the Patriots and as unlikely champions of Super Bowl XLII. Credit the presence of Strahan, a 15-year NFL veteran and six-time Pro Bowler.

While Strahan recorded just three tackles and a sack, he was the anchor of a D line that played with super resolve. Justin Tuck dropped Brady twice and rookie Jay Alford put the exclamation point on the night by drilling Brady for a 10-yard loss on the game’s final series.

Facing a Patriots offensive line featuring three Pro Bowlers that rarely let Brady feel the heat en route to an 18-0 start, the Giants would counter strength with strength. After all, the D line has been the heart of the Giants defense.

The Giants managed just one sack of Brady in a 38-35 Week 17 loss to New England. This time Strahan and company rose to the occasion, shutting down running lanes for young stud Laurence Maroney while collapsing the pocket on Brady. As a result, the highest scoring team in NFL history was held to just a single touchdown for more than three quarters.

Manning took home the Super Bowl MVP Award. And make no mistake, he was clutch. But this victory was all about the New York defense.

And when you consider Strahan missed the entire preseason posturing and contemplating retirement, it makes you wonder where the Giants would be today had Strahan actually gone quietly into life after football.

Now he’s guaranteed to be considered among the great defensive players of all time. A super effort on Super Bowl Sunday ensures he will live on in that vacuum forever. That’s a legacy even Letterman can’t touch.

Answer Gal: Super Dilemma

Dear Answer Gal,

Dear Hopelessly Devoted,

I feel your pain. I’ve read about 100 blogs on this exact issue and I can tell you, you are not alone. As our team has fallen into the realm of the forgotten New York teams, Jets fans everywhere are confused, disappointed, disgusted.

I’ve contemplated not even watching the game, but I’ve withdrawn that idea, as it can’t even be an option. My love for football has convinced me that my inevitable off-season football withdrawal will hit me harder if I give up the last football game of the season because of a bitter attitude.

The fact of the matter is, if you were a fan of ANY other team, the answer would be simple, root against perfection. Cheering for the underdog is an extremely attractive option for other fans. But unfortunately, our situation makes this a much more complicated question.

The question is, who do you really hate more? Sure, the Pats are division rivals and they are constantly handing us our asses on a large red white and blue platter, but in this case wouldn’t you rather the Superbowl champion be the team expected to win? They always win, what’s one more?

Your allegiance should also depend on whose fans surround you. If you are like me and are constantly surrounded by obnoxious Giants fans who will never let you hear the end of it if they not only win the Superbowl, but also takedown the 18-0 Pats in the process, then you just can’t hope for a Giant win.

So many people have asked me, as a New Yorker, how could I root against the Giants in a situation like this? My answer is simple, I’m a Jets fan, I will never root for the Giants, even if the Jets disbanded and ceased to exist. I’d sooner be a Patriots fan (after I jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge). Its just unethical in my eyes.

So my answer is this, you really can’t “root” for either team. What you can do is watch the game in shame and pray for a Patriot win (but definitely keep it to yourself) just so you don’t have to begrudgingly be surrounded by a sea of happy Big Blue fans come game end.

Don’t feel bad for the Giants either. The overwhelming nationwide hate for the perfection of the Patriots outside New England will surely push a few fans in New York’s direction.

Rebecca is a New York based entertainment and intellectual property attorney, an agressive fantasy player and an avid Knicks and Jets fan. Got a question for Answer Gal? E-mail her at: answergal@fantasysportsupdate.com

Eli Manning and the Road to Super Bowl XLII

By: Jason Molinet

Update! Writer

In terms of pure NFL talent, the price was steep. The New York Giants already had a solid if unspectacular quarterback in Kerry Collins and holes at several positions to fill.

Yet coming off a 4-12 season, Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi saw the opportunity to select a franchise quarterback with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. There were no shortage of candidates.

Choose the right signal caller and the Giants would not only possess the foundation of the organization for the next decade, but someone who could single-handedly lift the team into contention for the NFC East title season after season. Let’s not forget that special someone must also be the bankable face of your team. And in New York, star power is nearly as important as winning.

That’s why Eli Manning was a sensible and at the same time dangerous pick to be the torch-bearer for one of the NFL’s most venerable franchises.

His bloodline gave hope to every Giants fan. The son of an NFL quarterback and the brother of the most prolific signal caller of his generation, how could Eli fail? Yet the comparisons to older brother Peyton only seemed to weigh him down in such a media-centric town. New Yorkers like their athletes to bring Joe Namath swagger and Reggie Jackson-like clout.

Eli Manning had been neither.

His awkward arrival and steep draft-day price aside, Manning had been a muted figure for much of his first three seasons.

Add to the fact that Peyton Manning led Indianapolis to a Super Bowl title in January — along with the sudden retirement of running back and workhorse Tiki Barber — and the pressure to produce was never greater for the younger Manning as the 2007 season opened.

So to witness this playoff run, capped by Manning’s sub-zero embrace by Giants icon Michael Strahan after New York stunned host Green Bay, 23-20, in overtime of the NFC championship game late Sunday, well that said it all. Eli had arrived.

As they have this entire postseason, the Giants hit the road to play the role of underdog to the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3 in Phoenix. And unlike Week 3 when the Giants were 0-2 and searching for answers, this time there’s no doubt Manning can deliver.

Manning, 27, has completed 62 percent of his passes for 602 yards and four touchdowns in three postseason games. It’s earned him a 99.2 quarterback rating and the grudging respect of TV analysts and local media.

Until this latest run, there were plenty of second-guessers eager to pan Accorsi’s acquisition of Manning. After all, the Giants actually selected Philip Rivers at No. 4, Ben Roethlisberger was available at the 11th pick and Matt Schaub lasted into the third round.

But Accorsi and the Giants coveted Manning. So when San Diego drafted an unwilling Manning with the top pick, Chargers GM A.J. Smith promptly turned around and offered Manning to the Giants for Rivers and a package of draft picks.

Those picks turned into kicker Nate Kaeding (2004 third round), Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman (2005 first round) and tackle Roman Oben (2005 fifth round pick traded to Tampa Bay for the veteran player).

The play of Rivers, Kaeding and Merriman, who took the Chargers to the AFC championship game this season, may well trump anything Manning has done. But in the end, Accorsi and the Giants weren’t wrong.

Whether this marks the first of many Super Bowls or the beginning of the end, Manning has already fulfilled some heady expectations where so many other highly-touted quarterbacks have fallen short. (Think Ryan Leaf.) He’s led and won when it matters most.

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