It's late August. It's that time of year when NFL fans come out of hibernation and return from their caves. They begin to salivate at the mere sight of training camp footage on television and of course those ultimately frivolous preseason games. America can't wait to have their football back.
Unless, of course, you're a New York Giants fan.
As a Big Blue supporter, I know I will probably never again in my life see anything like what the G-Men went through last January and February. We witnessed our maddeningly inconsistent quarterback successfully play rope-a-dope with the entire league, and put one over on the New England Perfects in the Super Bowl. Overcoming their own flaws (of which there were many), injuries, and a murderers' row of playoff opponents, the success of the 2007 Giants may well be coming to a theater near you right about the same time that Boise State movie comes out.
So pardon me if I wanted to bask in the glow of last year's legacy and that glorious postseason just a little bit longer. After all, once that Thursday night opener against the Redskins kicks off, that all gets pushed aside and buried underneath each new play and subplot of 2008. Can't they just re-air all of last year's games all over again instead?
If history is any indicator, 2008 will probably not be kind to Big Blue. The '87 Giants missed the playoffs after the '86 Giants dominated the league. The '91 Giants lost coach Bill Parcells to "retirement" and lost their way, instead finding nothing but their living room couch and TV set in January. The 2001 Giants, who had just lost the Super Bowl to the Ravens, also missed out on the postseason the following year, instead watching the aforementioned Patriots dynasty being born.
Last year's '07 team was not a great team. They played three, maybe four great games down the stretch and essentially exploited the NFL's single-elimination playoff system for all it was worth. They went 10-6, for God's sake. Only one other Super Bowl-winning team had a record that poor, and that team had Joe Montana and Jerry Rice on it, so they probably knew they could afford a little regular season malaise.
Since 2005, the Giants have been a steady consistent team although never producing dominant or breakout regular season results. They have made the playoffs three consecutive years now, although only reaching 11 wins once and they have never had a first-round bye. NFC East rivals Philly and Dallas both have had much more dominant teams for longer periods of time in the decade. Their fans must be losing their minds wondering how the Giants, with results like those, could have one more Super Bowl ring than either of them. Granted, as much fun as that is for me to point out, the bottom line is that it is highly unlikely that they will suddenly become realistic title contenders even with the championship experience.
The most pressing issue, however, is the gradual leaking of talent this franchise has seen just in the offseason alone. After 2006, the Giants lost Tiki Barber and that appeared to be a death blow at the time, little did we know. Gone are Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, and Michael Strahan. Now Osi Umenyiora is out for the season, so the team threw money at Strahan to return, only to hear a swift but understandable "thanks, but no thanks" reply from Mr. Gaptooth himself. Suddenly, the identity of the franchise comes into question. Who is the face of the Giants this year? Is it really Eli Manning? Brandon Jacobs? Plaxico Burress? Amani Toomer? Who else is left?
So us Giants fans will now have to deal with a season in which both of last year's starting defensive ends — the main reason the New York defense wrecked Tom Brady seven months ago — have to be replaced.
On offense, Shockey finally got his trade, and for less than stellar value in return. Having seen how much it infuriated Shockey when his ankle broke that Monday night home game against Washington, and knowing how much it killed him through the playoffs and Super Bowl to have to watch from afar, it killed me just as much to know he would not get another shot at a Super Bowl for New York.
Now all those who fell in love with folk-hero backup tight end Kevin Boss last season can eat their hearts out, at least until they realize he is merely Kevin Boss. He cannot be expected to produce anywhere near the rate Shockey did.
So in effect, both sides of the ball will be weakened significantly in 2008. Eli Manning, a hero all offseason, will go back to putting up the same 24 TD 20 INT numbers and being the scourge of New Yorkers once he throws 4 red zone interceptions in an awful home loss to the 49ers in Week 7, or something to that effect.
Of course, as the fans of the world champs, we are asking for no one's pity, just perspective. While we will forever treasure the old highlights of last year, we can no longer stay married to them once the season starts. Even if the 2008 Giants are most likely not headed in the direction of a dynasty, it is time to move on and write a new book on a new season, a book that won't be nearly as hard to put down.
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August 28, 2008
dom ferranti:
are you sure you’re a giant fan?doesn’t sound like it.this team can be better than last years team and not reach the super bowl.so what is your point?if last year taught real giant fans anything is that this is a team game and individuals who like to talk alot but have talent doesn’t interpert into a winning team.giants missed neither barber or shockey on the field and most certainly the stench was gone from the locker room.it’s all about the organization and their approach.jerry reese has proven to be an evaluator of talent and tom coughlin can flat out coach and can’t be out worked by anyone in the game right now.go big blue!
August 28, 2008
KDog:
I think the Giants defense was severely underrated last year, especially down the stretch. With the losses theyve received on that side of the ball this year, I think the team is destined for mediocracy.
August 29, 2008
Billy Hazell is bald!:
So you question if a Superbowl MVP winning QB can be the face of a franchise, but you whine over the the loss of an overrated always hurt TE who won nothing? What kind of moron are you? Must be a Cowboy lover.
Shockey was overrated and we won WITHOUT him. Eli won us the SB while Shockey acted like the true dog he is. What does that tell you about Dropckey when his QB gets better when he gets hurt?
I don’t know how any TRUE Giants fan can bash Eli after last year. Go root for Shockey and the A’ints. Go bleep yourself, Billy Hazell. The Giants SB win was too good for scum like you.
September 2, 2008
Andrew:
Last year we had to hear that Tiki was gone and Petitout and the sky was falling. Then they won it all against the best teams 13-3 Dallas, 13-3 Green Bay, and 18-0 New England (without Shockey). Now this year it is the same story even though they have the same offense, same coaching staff. Sure they lost a few members on Defense but they also gained a few (Phillips, Thomas). Yet it is the same nonesense. The sky is falling……. They are going to be great team this year so stop all the whining. Go smooch the Cowboys and stop pretending to be a Giants fan.