Talk is Cheap

Coming into this season, the New York Jets went to back to back AFC Championship games. The Giants have struggled in the regular and post season after winning Super Bowl XLII, and the tide was starting to turn in the Jets favor as to which team runs New York, or so they thought.

The Jets and Rex Ryan ran their mouth earlier in the season stating that they were not the Giants' little brother anymore, especially after not having to play anymore in Giants Stadium. They talked a lot of trash leading into the week 16 matchup, in which the Jets were the "home team" at MetLife Stadium, and even covered up the Giants' Super Bowl banners that were in the stadium. After the Giants defeated the Jets thanks to a 99 yard TD reception by Victor Cruz, the fates of each team seemed to change. The Jets went on to miss the playoffs, where as the Giants went on a mystical run that saw that crowned Super Bowl XLVI champions.

During the Super Bowl celebration at MetLife stadium yesterday, Giants' defensive end Justin Tuck was sure to put in his own two words after the Giants walked the walk.

"The last time we did this, it was in Giants Stadium," Tuck told a crowd of approximately 40-to-45,000 fans at the team’s Super Bowl XLVI championship rally at its home stadium. "And I am sure you know where I am going to go with this. Now we are in MetLife Stadium. It's MetLife Stadium.

"But for one thing you can be sure of -- of whose house it is.”

And so the feud continues between two teams that share a City and a beautiful new stadium.  After the Jets talked the talk for the entire season, the Giants, in true Big Blue fashion, walked the walk, and kept their season motto true to the end, FINISH!

Win-Loss Game: Giants Edition

The Giants get off to another hot start, but the tough schedule late in the season sees them struggling to take the division, and has them fighting for their playoff lives through a wild card berth. Of course this is just a quick glance at the schedule, and there are an infinite number of variables that can effect the outcome of games, but this is how the season will go in my eyes.

Week	Date	Opponent
1	Sun, Sep 11	@ Washington Redskins	4:15 pm		FOX				WIN	(1-0)
2	Mon, Sep 19	vs St. Louis Rams	8:30 pm		ESPN				WIN	(2-0)
3	Sun, Sep 25	@ Philadelphia Eagles	1:00 pm		FOX				LOSS	(2-1)
4	Sun, Oct 2	@ Arizona Cardinals	4:05 pm		FOX				WIN	(3-1)
5	Sun, Oct 9	vs Seattle Seahawks	1:00 pm		FOX				WIN	(4-1)
6	Sun, Oct 16	vs Buffalo Bills	1:00 pm		CBS				WIN	(5-1)
7	Bye
8	Sun, Oct 30	vs Miami Dolphins	1:00 pm		CBS				WIN	(6-1)
9	Sun, Nov 6	@ New England Patriots	4:15 pm		FOX				LOSS	(6-2)
10	Sun, Nov 13	@ San Francisco 49ers	4:15 pm		FOX				WIN	(7-2)
11	Sun, Nov 20	vs Philadelphia Eagles	8:20 pm		NBC				LOSS	(7-3)
12	Mon, Nov 28	@ New Orleans Saints	8:30 pm		ESPN				LOSS	(7-4)
13	Sun, Dec 4	vs Green Bay Packers	4:15 pm		FOX				LOSS	(7-5)
14	Sun, Dec 11	@ Dallas Cowboys	8:20 pm		NBC				WIN	(8-5)
15	Sun, Dec 18	vs Washington Redskins	1:00 pm		FOX				WIN	(9-5)
16	Sat, Dec 24	@ New York Jets	1:00 pm		FOX				LOSS	(9-6)
17	Sun, Jan 1	vs Dallas Cowboys	1:00 pm		FOX				LOSS	(9-7)

Giants 1st Round Pick Injured In Practice

After being the last 1st rounder to sign with his respective team, Giants' rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara fractured a bone in his left foot in just his second practice with the team on Saturday. Amukamara fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot while performing a press coverage drill against wide receiver Duke Calhoun. The cornerback will have surgery to repair the injury and is expected to miss about two months.

This is the second injury to occur in the Giants defensive backfield in the past week, as cornerback Bruce Johnson ruptured his Achilles on Thursday and since has been released by the team. The Giants will now be thin at the position behind starters Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas, and reserve Aaron Ross.

This is just another blow in a tumultuous offseason where the Giants have been relatively quiet as both their in town rival Jets, and their division rival Eagles have been pro active by adding free agents to bolster their already proven rosters.

The Giants failed to add WR Plaxico Burress who was recently released from prison, and also saw their standout tight end Kevin Boss sign with the Oakland Raiders. With the usually reliable Steve Smith coming off major surgery, the Giants receiving core also lacks depth behind studs Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham.

Giants fans can't be happy with the way the offseason has gone with the injuries, lack of free agent signings, and the ongoing contract disputes with Osi Umenyora. As a Giants fan myself, I try to have faith in General Manager Jerry Reese as he has done well in the past, but this season already seems like it's going to be a long one for Big Blue.

NFL Draft tonight at 8 PM on ESPN

The 2011 NFL draft will take place tonight at 8 PM on ESPN. We will take a look at the local teams and where most project they will go with their first round pick.

New York Giants:

The New York Giants will have the 19th pick in this years draft. The Giants have multiple offensive lineman who are coming off surgeries during the off-season. With this is mind, many of the experts believe that the Giants will select Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey with the 19th pick. He is the twin brother of Maurkice Pouncey who was a 2010 first-round NFL Draft pick and is currently the starting center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Maurkice started all 16 games as a rookie and was selected to the Pro Bowl. The Giants could only hope that Mike could be as good as his brother if they selected him. If Pouncey isn't available at 19, the Giants might look to select Boston College tackle Anthony Castonzo.

If both Castonzo and Pouncey are unavailable, the Giants might look to go in a different direction with their pick. There has been talk that the Giants are interested in Alabama star running back, and former Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram. Ingram is the son of former Giants Wide Receiver Mark Ingram,SR. Although Mark Ingram JR won the Heisman as a Sophomore, he struggled during his Junior season after he missed the first two games due to minor knee surgery. With Bradshaw being a free agent, and the NFL still in labor talks, the Giants might select Ingram to sure up their backfield.

New York Jets:

The New York Jets have the 30th pick in the upcoming 2011 NFL draft. Experts predict that the Jets will select defensive tackle Phil Taylor from Baylor University. There is some debate whether the Jets will go for the best player available or for need. If the Jets go for need, they might select a linebacker. If they select a linebacker, outside linebacker Akeem Ayers from is most likely their choice UCLA. Another option at outside linebacker would be Brooks Reed out of Arizona who had a very strong combine. The Jets need to infuse some speed and youth into their front seven to help get pressure on the quarterback. Their has also been discussion that the Jets will trade down out of the 30th pick if they don't like any of the available players.

The draft is extremely important to a teams long term success. The teams that draft well are the ones that stay near the top of the league the longest. Good drafting teams can have a seamless transition from year to year as players leave to free agency or retire. Both the Giants and Jets have had recent success in the draft. Let's hope it can continue tonight.