Good Morning Everyone,

Since I am out here in Arizona for the game this week, I thought it would be fun to get together with some guys from Revenge Of The Birds, and put together a video talking about the game.

So last night, with the help of Intellectual Derriere and Murfdog from Big Blue View, and Noah and Matt from Revenge Of The Birds, we all sat down with a few beers, and talked about the game. Noah and Matt are great guys, and they did an awesome job.

Thanks to the guys at Revenge Of The Birds for helping me coordinate this, and thanks to Intellectual D and Murf for sitting in on this on short notice.

I've always maintained that "The Fumble" may have been one of the best things to ever happen to the Giants as a franchise. It helped the organization realize that it was time to change the way the team was run. Now 30 years later, Bob Glauber of Newsday takes a look back at that infamous moment in Giants history and how the organization turned it into a positive when you look back on it.

It's kind of funny how "The Fumble" over the years became the "November 22^nd" of sorts for Giants fans. Everyone remembers where they were when it happened. I was only 8 at the time, but my father has recounted the story many times of where we were when that ball hit the ground.

Giants have recovered after "the fumble" by Joe Pisarcik and Larry Csonka -- Newsday.com

Good morning Giants fans, it's Wednesday and for me it's "Getaway Day" so let's take a quick look at some of the stories making headlines around the NFL:

The Bleacher Report says the Eagles-Bengals tie on Sunday proves its time for the NFL to adopt the NCAA overtime rules.

Pete Prisco says that while it's fun to talk about a Titans-Giants Super Bowl, the reality is that one or both of those teams  may not make it. I guess he doesn't have much faith in the Titans.....

Mike Holmgren thinks the Seahawks may need major changes, but he has no answers.

For what has to be the umpteenth time this year, the NFL has admitted the refs blew the call on Sunday.

From the tongue-in-cheek department, the Lions in L.A.?

Cowboys coach Jerry Wade Jones Phillips says he doesn't expect Pacman Jones back with the Cowboys.

Instead of finishing with the usual NFL Notes, I just have one last thought:

A lot was made about how many bets were won and lost with that debacle in Pittsburgh on Sunday, and most of it was light-hearted, but I can't help but wonder this week how many rents didn't get paid, how many kids college funds took a hit, and how many limbs were broken, all on the turn of one bad call.    

Look for me and the boys on Sunday at the game, we'll be the guys in Giants jerseys with beers in our hands.

Today Big Blue View takes a look at the Ravens in preparation for their game against the Giants.

2008 Record: 6-3 (tied for 1^st place, AFC North)

Head Coach: John Harbaugh

Last time they met: In 2004, the Ravens beat the Giants 37-14 in Baltimore.

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Cam Cameron

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Rex Ryan

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Joe Flacco (1st Round, Delaware), RB Ray Rice (2nd Round, Rutgers), FB Lorenzo Neal (from Chargers), TE Adam Bergen (from Cardinals), G Adrien Clarke (from Jets), OL Oniel Cousins (3rd Round, UTEP), LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (from Bears), LB Tavares Gooden (3rd Round, Miami-Florida), CB Fabian Washington (from Raiders), CB Frank Walker (from Packers), S Tom Zbikowski (3rd Round, Notre Dame), S Jim Leonhard (from Bills)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Steve McNair (retired), RB Musa Smith (to Jets), RB Mike Anderson (released), WR Devard Darling (to Chiefs), T Jonathan Ogden (retired), LB Prescott Burgess (injured/out for season), S Gerome Sapp (not tendered), RS B.J. Sams (to Chiefs)

NOTES AND QUOTES:

• Derrick Mason said he expects to play in Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Mason, who dislocated his left shoulder Sunday, is not expected to practice this week before the showdown against the defending Super Bowl champions. "I'm going to make the trip to New York and I expect to be on the field," said Mason, 34, who has played in 99 straight games. "My body typically responds well whenever I've had injuries. Just because I'm a little bit older doesn't mean it's going to respond well again." Ravens coach John Harbaugh was more cautious about Mason, who leads Baltimore in catches (46) and receiving yards (598). "He's going to be day-to-day," Harbaugh said. "It's going to be a game-time decision."
• The Ravens secondary will see a familiar face in the Giants' Plaxico Burress, a longtime receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 11 games against the Ravens, Burress has averaged 3.9 catches for 69 yards. He has scored just one touchdown in the past five meetings. "Eli (Manning) has got a lot of confidence in throwing it up there (to Burress)," Harbaugh said. "Sometimes when he's covered, he's not covered."
• The Ravens are also familiar with Burress' ability to push off and get away with it. "Yeah, he does the Vlade Divac sometimes," cornerback Samari Rolle said, referring to the former NBA center.
• After committing seven penalties for 55 yards in the first half of Sunday's game at Houston, the Ravens drew no flags the remainder of the contest."It was magic," Harbaugh joked. "We sprinkled magic penalty dust." Harbaugh got serious when he talked about the team's avoidance of incurring a personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness since Oct.19. "The personal-foul penalties have evaporated," Harbaugh said. "I'm proud of that, and I think they are, too."
• After converting four of four scoring opportunities inside the Texans' 20-yard line, the Ravens are 15 of 29 (51.7 percent) in the red zone and improved to 17th from 25th in the NFL in red-zone efficiency.

BY THE NUMBERS: 28 -- Consecutive games that the Ravens defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher, the NFL's longest current streak. The defense plays the New York Giants, the NFL's top-ranked rushing attack.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Maybe the one thing you don't anticipate is how much you're like a shepherd. You know, someone strays, and you have to pull him back in. Then another strays, and we pull him back. There's a little of that going on all the time." -- Ravens coach John Harbaugh, on his first season as a head coach.

Today Big Blue View takes a look at the Eagles in preparation for their game against the Giants.

Eagles logo circa 1986

2008 Record: 5-3 (3^rd Place NFC East)

Head Coach: Andy Reid

Last time they met: December 9^th, 2007, The Giants defeated the Eagles 16-13 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Marty Mornhinweg

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jim Johnson

KEY ADDITIONS: RB Lorenzo Booker (from Dolphins), FB/TE Kris Wilson (from Chiefs), WR DeSean Jackson (2nd Round, California), DE Chris Clemons (from Raiders), DT Trevor Laws (2nd Round, Notre Dame), DT Dan Klecko (from Colts), OLB/DE Bryan Smith (3rd Round, McNeese State), LB Rocky Boiman (from Colts), CB Asante Samuel (from Patriots)

KEY DEPARTURES: FB Thomas Tapeh (to Vikings), DE Jevon Kearse (to Titans), DT Ian Scott (released), DT LaJuan Ramsey (to 49ers), DT Kimo von Oelhoffen (released), LB Takeo Spikes (to 49ers), CB William James (to Bills), RS Reno Mahe (not tendered)

NOTES AND QUOTES:

• The Eagles have not had a lot of luck stopping Plaxico Burress since the 6-foot-5 wide receiver signed with the Giants before the 2005 season.In seven games against the Eagles in the last three years, Burress has 36 receptions and 6 touchdowns and has averaged 17.6 yards per catch. He's had 100-plus receiving yards in four of those seven games.
• Left guard Todd Herremans became the first Eagles offensive lineman in 74 years to catch a touchdown pass Sunday. Herremans, who lined up as an eligible receiver, caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb late in the first half of the Eagles' 27-7 win. He blocked, then slipped into the end zone where McNabb threw him the ball. The only other Eagles offensive lineman to catch a touchdown pass was Bob Gonya, who did it on October 7, 1934 against Pittsburgh. Earlier in the game, Herremans had suffered a dislocated finger and had to have it taped to another finger. "I didn't think they'd call (the play), especially since I'd dislocated my finger," said Herremans.
• Eagles coach Andy Reid made it clear that backup tight end Brent Celek, who had 6 catches for 131 yards in Sunday's 26-7 win over the Seattle Seahawks, won't be replacing L.J. Smith as the team's starting tight end.Smith missed the Seattle game with a concussion. He's got just 12 catches for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns this season."L.J. is a Pro Bowl player," Reid said. "People pay so much attention to him (when he goes out for a pass). I'm not taking anything away from Brent because I thought that he played his heart out. But there were times when they didn't do a great job of covering him."
• The Eagles and Giants haven't been particularly good in the red zone this season, which is a big reason they rank second and fourth, respectively, in field goal attempts. If the Eagles are to beat the Giants, they must maximize their red-zone opportunities and put the ball in the end zone, rather than settle for field goals.

BY THE NUMBERS: 4 - That's how many interceptions Donovan McNabb has thrown, but two of them have been in the red zone.

Matchups To Watch:   Eagles CB Asante Samuel vs. Giants WR Plaxico Burress-Burress has been a thorn in the Eagles' side, averaging 17.6 yards per catch and catching six TD passes in seven games against the Eagles.

Eagles RG Max Jean-Gilles vs. Giants DE/DT Justin Tuck: When Tuck, the team's starting LE, moves inside on passing downs, Jean-Gilles must hold him off.

Eagles MLB Stewart Bradley vs. Giants RBs Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward: Bradley is the key man in a run defense that has held six of eight opponents to less than 90 rushing yards.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's a heckuva player. He's always a challenge. Our secondary gets very excited about playing against him. But he's not the only good receiver they've got."-Eagles coach Andy Reid on Giants WR Plaxico Burress.

Good Morning Giants fans, its Wednesday, and that means its time to take a look at some of the stories making headlines around the NFL.

• From the Dallas Morning News, Jean-Jacques Taylor has a great story about how the "Jerry and Wade Show" have completely ruined all the hard work Bill Parcells did with the Cowboys.
• Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News says the Eagles defense is ok, it's the offense that is flawed.
• Fanhouse talks about how Steeler fans seem to be everywhere.
• NFL Commish Roger Goodell is not only tough on players, but he is not afraid to confront the big cable companies.
• Looking into the Big Blue View "hindsight" file, remember during the off season when many of us (including this intrepid "expert") were calling for the Giants to trade for DeAngelo Hall? Well the Raiders are on the verge of releasing him.

Some final thoughts:

• The Brady Quinn Era begins this week for Cleveland. Defenses the Browns face in the 2^nd half: Buffalo, Tennessee, Philly, and Pittsburgh. Good luck, kid.
• Hey Coach Del Rio, you're sweating, is that seat getting a little hot?
• The Packers have signed Aaron Rodgers until 2014. The over/under on Brett Favre retirements between now and then is currently 3.
• Love him or hate him, Bill Belichick may be doing some of the best coaching of his career this year.
• Derrick Ward is having Thanksgiving dinner at my house.

Dear Derrick,

OK, first let me start with the gifts:

• Chocolate covered cashews from Harry and David's (Ahmad told me they were your favorite.)
• An "Ottawa University Alumni" sweatshirt
• An "I rushed for 800 yards as a backup and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" t-shirt.

I hope you like those gifts, Derrick. No hard feelings, OK? I'm sorry for never having enough confidence in you. I'm sorry for all those weeks of saying "Why isn't Bradshaw getting the ball?", when you were doing the job just fine.

Derrick, did you know that our birthdays are just a few days apart? Also, according to your profile, you live in Weehawken. I was born in Weehawken! So see, we're practically ... well, we're practically something, I guess.

I promise I will never ever doubt your ability again, Derrick. I no longer care that you were a Jet castoff; I won't let that cloud my judgment anymore. Besides, what do they know, they're the Jets!

I own an Ahmad Bradshaw jersey, but if they ever make one of yours, or if you have an extra one that you would want to give to a fellow "Weehawken-ite", I would wear it proudly.

So again, I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me, and not hold a grudge as tightly as you hold a football.

And by the way, I can't help but notice that you are a free agent after the season, and let me just say this: If you decide to re-sign with the Giants, there are plenty more cashews from where those came from.

Sincerely

Jim

Today Big Blue View takes a look at the Dallas Cowboys in preparation for their game against the Giants.

2008 Record: 5-3 (3^rd place NFC East)

Head Coach: Jerry Jones  Wade Phillips

Last time they met: January 2008, NFC Divisional Playoffs, Giants defeat Dallas 21-17

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jason Garrett

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Brian Stewart

GAME NOTES:

• Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips made official on Wednesday what he indicated earlier in the week: Quarterback Brad Johnson will make his third consecutive start Sunday against the Giants despite speculation the Cowboys might consider starting third-stringer Brooks Bollinger after scoring a combined 27 points the last two games without Tony Romo (finger).
• Starting cornerback Anthony Henry (quadriceps) and backup linebacker Anthony Spencer (hamstring) were limited in Wednesday's practice, but Phillips said both could play Sunday.
• Veteran linebacker Zach Thomas hasn't assumed a vocal leadership role since signing with the Cowboys in the off-season. But last week, in the wake of a two-game losing streak, Thomas offered some encouraging words to his defensive teammates."Zach stood up in front of the defense (last) week and gave us quotes about just going out and playing, and stop worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow or the next day," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "Just go out and perform the day you're out there."

Cowboys Midseason Report from Dallas Morning News

 BY THE NUMBERS: 55- The number of tackles LB Zach Thomas has after eight games. He's on pace for a 110 tackles this season one year after having his season cut short by a concussion and wondering if he should retire.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I coach the same all of the time, I think. I hope I do. I don't know about patience or non-patience. I'm trying to get this team to win and that is what we are trying to do here. So we won the division, but we didn't go anywhere in the playoffs last year. We are trying to first get in the playoffs, trying to win the division and trying to go somewhere. That is our goal. And we are 5-3 right now. We need to be better." -- Cowboys coach Wade Phillips.

Here are some Giants notes this Wednesday afternoon:

• The Giants have re-signed Andre Woodson to the practice squad and waived OL Cliff Louis.
• DE Mathias Kiwanuka was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Pittsburgh Sunday, when he had three of the Giants' five sacks and two in the fourth quarter.
• Tom Coughlin address the media this morning and said he expects Cowboys TE Jason Witten to play, as well as injured CB Anthony Henry. The Coach said he also expects Brad Johnson to start, but the Giants will be prepared for Brooks Bollinger as well.
• David Tyree's status will be decided by this time next week.
• Finally, injured DE Osi Umenyiora spoke with Ralph Vacchiano from the Daily News yesterday, and said his rehab is going so well, that he could have been ready for the playoffs. He says, however, that he understood why the Giants had to place him on season-ending injured reserve. Osi also talks about Plax, and his second career.

At the end of that story is a great comment from a reader named "jakek1", and I thought what he said was so good I figured I would put it up in lights for all to see:

jakek1:

This is going to turn out to be the biggest blessing in disguise. Osi will come back next year healthier and hungrier than ever. Meanwhile, Kiwi and Tuck are getting full time starters snaps and immeasurable experience. Tuck is learning how to handle constant doubleteams and Kiwi is playing full time DE as well now. Furthermore, Tollefson and the interior linemen are flourishing with the increased role and pressure to make plays.

Next year, when we are going for the 3-peat, god willing, Osi will not let this team rest on their laurels. He'll come in and shift either Tuck or Kiwi into that hybrid, who-knows-where-the-hell-he's-coming-from pash-rushing position. It will be like drafting a first-round guaranteed pro-bowl DE to add to our already stellar pash rush.

Speaking of draft picks.....while we're trying to decide what to do with the plethora of picks we have, Dallas will be waiting until the second round to use one of their three picks to fill one of their 8 needs!! Ahh, with Osi back next year....the rich get richer.

Nice job jakek1, I couldn't have said it any better.

Good Morning, Giants fans, it's time to take our Wednesday look at stories making headlines around the NFL. So, let's get to it!

• The Rams sent the NFL a videotape of their game against the Patriots. The Pats were penalized just once on Sunday, and the Rams want to know why.
• Several players are under investigation by the league for taking a diuretic that is on the banned substance list.
• Is Chiefs RB Larry Johnson the biggest jackass in the league?
• The Sporting News has an early look at the NFL MVP race. I think Eli deserves to be on this list. Not sure how you can put so many guys on 4-3 and 3-4 teams on an MVP list, but what do I know? I don't work for The Sporting News.
• After telling the Chiefs "No thanks", Daunte Culpepper is in talks to join the Lions.

NFL Nuggets:

• I have not seen this officially confirmed, but rumors are that Giants Equipment Director Joe Skiba has said the Giants will NOT wear their red jerseys at all this year.
• The Chargers fired Defensive Coordinator Ted Cottrell. I think Norv Turner is next in San Diego. I still can't figure out why Norv is on his third head coaching gig, while Jim Fassel never got another shot.
• The NFC East could be the first division in NFL history to have every team finish over .500. It has never happened before.
• Mike Singletary doesn't believe in "settling in", does he?
• I didn't think it was possible, but Jamarcus Russell has actually gotten worse since Lane Kiffin was fired.
• I think Wade Phillips is going to become the 3^rd coach this season to meet his demise after playing the Giants.
• Lastly, I am glad the Giants are playing Dallas this weekend. After the big win over the Steelers, I don't see any way they let down against Dallas. I would be more worried about this game if they were playing Oakland or Detroit.