Sick Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The image of running back Brandon Jacobs gleefully shrieking, ``Super Bowl! Super Bowl!'' in the Giants locker room today as he stuffed an envelope filled with tickets into his back pocket belied a little problem with Big Blue. The Giants are fighting a bug, an unwelcome variation of the Blue Flu.
At least three players -- running back Madison Hedgecock, defensive tackle Manny Wright, and safety Mike Johnson -- were home sick while the Giants held their second practice to prepare for Super Bowl XLII against the Patriots.
``They all have whatever is going around, high temperatures and that kind of thing,'' coach Tom Coughlin said in his daily news conference at the Meadowlands (the Giants shipped in 20 large pizzas to accommodate the media horde).
Injuries have plagued the Giants much of the season. Some players have managed to continue contributing, including Jacobs, who missed most of September with a knee injury, and wideout Plaxico Burress, whose has battled an injured ankle. But several others have been lost for the season to broken bones, including linebacker (and Boston College alum) Mathias Kiwanuka, tight end Jeremy Shockey, and running back Derrick Ward.
Considering Coughlin expects to install 80 percent of his game plan for the Patriots by the end of Saturday's practice, the Giants can ill afford more illness. They plan to rest Sunday and fly to Phoenix Monday for the duel in the desert.
So Eli Manning has looked good as of late, so what? Has he really looked THAT good, I mean lets be serious for a moment.
Three words: Experience, Experience, Experience.
I am flat out worried about the Pats. This is a wicked pisser that we would have the one team that has what it takes to beat us!
Yikes! Just hope the flu stays out of the Pats clubhouse. The flu really put us at a disadvantage last year against the Colts.
Eli has been better than he was earlier in the seaon, but the defense has been the won who has won the last couple of weeks. Even in the Patriot game, it was the defense who made that game closer than it should have been. The Patriots werent playing at full speed, just hard enough to win the game and not get anyone hurt. This game will be totally different, the Patriots will come out to win.....and win they will!!!
Linda, you have got to be kidding. What makes you think that The Pats were not playing ' Full Speed' in the final game of the season against the Gints? Show me one piece of evidence that ANY Belichik coached team EVER played less then 'Full Speed'. Thats right, you can't . The Pats vs. Big Blue will be a tough, defensive battle that will come down to turnovers, and New York will pull off the greatest upset since Superbowl III. Better Prepare yourself.....
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
ask reiss
Questions will be considered for Mike's mailbagbrowse this blog
by categoryINside Boston.com