17
May
2012
Eli Manning’s sandwich celebration from SNL: now animated by EA sports (VIDEO)
While we were away, Giants QB Eli Manning made his live comedy debut, hosting Saturday Night Live to mostly positive reviews.
Thanks to the wonders of technology, I was able to watch the show on DVR, and I mean, it wasn’t like Eli was the funniest host the show has ever seen, but it was definitely one of the better episodes of the season (for whatever that’s worth). He was relatively loose and self-effacing, and pulled off quite a few genuine laughs throughout the night … particularly once he managed to relax and slow down a little bit. It certainly wasn’t the train wreck I was expecting it could turn into, and once again Eli did alright following in the footsteps of his older brother.
One of the better moments came during a fake motion capture session at EA Sports for their Madden franchise, where Manning is asked to perform a touchdown celebration for the game. Eli responds with a series of bizarre maneuvers, ranging from hugging himself to drinking water to girlishly throwing a grenade – the last of which was hilarious in its execution. Ultimately, Eli decides on his ideal signature celebration: making a sandwich, dropping it on the ground and looking around sheepishly before picking it up and eating it.
Well, someone over at EA Sports apparently enjoyed getting the SNL treatment, and decided to animate Eli’s sandwich celebration for real, posting it to Youtube on Tuesday. And aside from the fact that he’s wearing a Patriots uniform, it’s pretty excellent:
SNL writer Sarah Schneider was apparently thrilled at the tribute to her sketch. We can only hope that the gang at EA Sports actually includes this celebration in the game, if only as an easter egg of some sort.
WATCH THE SNL MOTION CAPTURE SKETCH, PLUS A BONUS SNL DIGITAL SHORT AFTER THE JUMP
23
Feb
2012
Watch Eli Manning cheat at pick-up football as a kid (VIDEO)
An early version of the now-classic Eli Manning face
This Manning home video - in all its 80′s VHS glory – has been on YouTube since 2009, but we hadn’t seen it until recently, and it’s a pretty fantastic slice of football history.
Watch young Eli Manning playing a game of pick-up football at his home in New Orleans, with his family looking on. It appears to be a birthday party of some sort, with Eli and his friends participating in one of the least-organized games you’ll ever see. Father Archie is the cameraman, brother Peyton is the ref, and mother Olivia is barely paying attention as Eli refuses to play two-hand touch, and cheats his way around the football field.
But it’s worth noting the two-time Super Bowl MVP’s preternatural leadership qualities on display at an early age (he’s clearly the one in charge out there), as well as the play where Eli goes down on the concrete part of the driveway, and simply brushes himself off as he gets back up and resumes playing. And then there’s the now-infamous Eli Manning face, as seen in the banner pic above. Some things never change.
Eventually, Archie steps in at all-time QB to bring some sanity to the proceedings (with Peyton taking over camera duties), delivering a touchdown strike to Eli before the video cuts out. But not before we get a small taste of what life growing up in the Manning household was like.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
14
Feb
2012
Read Ernie Accorsi’s 2002 scouting report of Eli Manning, in its entirety
(Photo: Getty Images via SI.com)
The run that Eli Manning and the New York Giants put together this post-season was nothing short of remarkable, and after earning his second Super Bowl MVP, Manning has officially entered the pantheon of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks. For Giants fans, Manning’s success is vindication for the now-legendary 2004 draft day trade that brought Eli to New York instead of guys like Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers … it’s like we’ve watched him grow up before our very eyes and finally become the franchise quarterback we always hoped he could be.
But even the most pro-Eli fans in the world would admit to periods of doubt while watching Manning struggle through his early growing pains. The most memorable example was after his fourth NFL start as a rookie against the fearsome Baltimore Ravens, when Ray Lewis and Ed Reed turned young Eli into a quivering mess on the field, going 4 of 18 for 27 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions: a 0.0 passer rating. Many people thought it would be the end of little brother, but he ended up bouncing back the following week in a showdown against Big Ben, earning is teammates respect, and leading the Giants on what would become the first of many 4th quarter comebacks in the final game of the season against Dallas. There was something about this kid, after all.
Former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi – the man who pulled the trigger on that fateful draft day trade – saw something special in Eli all the way back in 2002, when he was just a junior at Ole Miss. That November, Accorsi went to Oxford, Missisippi to watch Manning take on Jason Campbell and the heavily favored Auburn Tigers … and what he saw on that day changed Giants franchise history forever.
From Accorsi’s summary:
Throws the ball, takes the hit, gets right back up… Has courage and poise. In my opinion, most of all, he has that quality you can’t define. Call it magic. As [former Baltimore Colts defensive back] Bobby Boyd told me once about Unitas, “Two things set him apart: his left testicle and his right testicle.”…
Read Accorsi’s entire scouting report from the game below, as re-printed from Tom Callahan’s book The GM: The Inside Story of a Dream Job and the Nightmares That Go With It.
Manning's poise under fire helped lift NY past the 49ers for the NFC Championship (Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images via NBCSports.com)
With the benefit of hindsight, and after watching Eli pull out comeback after comeback for his team as a pro, Accorsi’s assessment of Manning from almost ten years ago is insanely accurate and prescient. The traits he identified during one college game – courage, poise, toughness and that indefinable “magic” – are exactly what have allowed Eli to succeed in the NFL, almost down to the play (like the streaking pass down the left sideline, dropped perfectly over the shoulder of his receiver … sound familiar?).
It’s a report that will go down in Giants lore as a treasured historical document, to be marveled at by generations of football fans to come. And it makes Accorsi look like a freakin’ genius.
READ THE FULL SCOUTING REPORT AFTER THE JUMP
6
Feb
2012
Your Monday Morning Super Bowl XLVI Round-up
(Photo: Getty Images via ShutdownCorner)
Now that the dust has settled from last night’s thrilling Super Bowl contest, here are a few links to get you caught up what you may have missed:
- Eli Manning has silenced his critics by winning his second Super Bowl MVP, but Shutdown Corner makes the case that Justin Tuck deserved the award too, based on the pressure he applied on Tom Brady all day, including the 1st quarter safety
- Wes Welker’s dropped pass with just 3:46 left in the game is being singled out as the reason the Patriots lost the game, and based on their reaction yesterday, it’s safe to say some of his teammates probably agree
(via Gifninja.com)
- Gisele Bundchen was also not happy with the Patriots receivers after the game, pointing out that “My husband cannot (bleeping) throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time!”
- Steelers James Harrison and Ryan Clark took a couple shots at the Patriots via Twitter after their loss, with Harrison going so far as to say “Cheaters never win!!!”
- It was quick, so you might have missed it, but M.I.A. apparently flipped America the bird during the halftime show (VIDEO HERE)
- Somebody bet $1,000 that the first score of the game would be a safety. That person is now $50k richer
- In case it was too noisy at your SB party to watch all the much-hyped commercials, here are all the Super Bowl Ads for your viewing pleasure
- And unless you live in North Platte, Nebraska, you probably didn’t know that Will Ferrell appeared in a SB commercial for Old Milwaukee
- Giants rookie LB Greg Jones proposed to his long-time girlfriend on the field immediately following the game, with confetti still falling around them
5
Feb
2012
Giants defeat Patriots 21-17 to win Super Bowl XLVI, Eli wins MVP (VIDEO)
Eli = Elite (Photo: NY Giants Facebook)
The New York Giants are Super Bowl Champions once again, and Eli Manning has won his second Super Bowl MVP award after defeating the New England Patriots 21-17 in Indianapolis tonight. With the win, Eli officially steps out of the shadow of his brother Peyton, and cements himself in the annals of NFL history as one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks.
The biggest play of the game came in the fourth quarter, as the Giants attempted to drive the field for the game-winning score. Manning hit Mario Manningham for this incredible 38-yard sideline catch:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
27
Jan
2012
Watch this fantastic Giants 2011-12 season highlights package (VIDEO)
This week 14 block effectively saved the Giants season (Photo: NYPost.com)
There are thousands of fan-made highlights packages to be found on YouTube, but this one of the New York Football Giants 2011-12 regular season stands out from the pack for its incredible editing, high quality footage, and of course, the tasteful use of ”Run This Town” by Jay-Z (feat. Rihanna) as the backing music.
And even though the Giants barely squeaked into the playoffs as a Wild Card after finishing 9-7, with guys like Eli, Cruuuuuuz, and JPP having breakout seasons, there were still plenty of explosive and memorable plays from this year’s campaign … even before they were able to put it all together just in time for a stunning playoff run.
So if you’re a Giants fan looking for something to keep you fired up during the off-week before Super Bowl XLVI, you’ve come to the right place.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
16
Jan
2012
Giants stun Packers to advance to NFC Championship (as told through PICS & GIFS)
Manning took the belt from Rodgers on Sunday! (Photo via tinypic.com)
In Sunday’s big matchup, the New York Giants soundly defeated the defending champion Packers 37-20 in Green Bay yesterday, and will head to San Francisco on Sunday for a re-match of their week 10 loss … not to mention the fabled 2002 wild card comeback and 1990 NFC Championship game.
With the win, Eli Manning may have finally cemented himself as an “elite” quarterback (whatever that means), improving to 6-3 all-time in the post-season after throwing for 330 yards and 3 TDs and outperforming his more-heralded counterpart, Aaron Rodgers (264 yards, 2 TDs). Giants WR Hakeem Nicks was once again the best receiver on the field, pulling in 7 catches for 165 yards and two TDs. The Giants defense once again came to play, harassing Rodgers for four sacks and causing three turnovers and ending the Packers 15-1 season unceremoniously.
And now, here’s your game recap in photos and GIFs (CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE):
Win or lose, this guy's Lambeau field hat is amazing (Photo via Reddit.com/r/nfl)
Nicks struck the first big blow for NY with a 66-yard score in the 1st quarter (photo: Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger)
In the second quarter, it looked as though the Giants got hosed by the refs, who somehow ruled Greg Jennings down on a fumble when video evidence clearly showed otherwise :
Hell, even Mike Pereira thought it was a fumble (Image via Sportsgrid.com)
Just before halftime, the Giants went for it all with a 37-yard hail mary to Hakeem Nicks
8
Jan
2012
Hakeem Nicks splits Falcons D en route to 72-yard touchdown (VIDEO)
(Photo: Nick Laham/Getty Images via Yahoo.com)
With second-year sensation Victor Cruz (and his salsa dance) getting all the press for the New York WRs dring the build up to this week’s Giants-Falcons Wild Card match-up, it was Hakeem Nicks who turned in the play of the day in leading the Giants to an impressive 24-2 playoff win.
After a defensive struggle in the first half, New York led 10-2 late in the third quarter when Nicks broke the game wide open with this 72-yard catch and run. Watch as Nicks splits no less than FIVE Falcons defenders at midfield and leaves them in the dust for his second touchdown of the game:
Nicks, who would finish with 115 yards receiving to go with his 2 TDs, added insult to injury for the Falcons by doing “The Dirty Bird” as his endzone celebration:
DIRTY BIRD GIF AFTER THE JUMP
4
Jan
2012
Giants-Cowboys New Year’s Day Photo Essay (20 PICS)
This past Sunday, on New Year’s Day 2012, we were fortunate enough to attend the much-hyped Giants-Cowboys game at MetLife Stadium.
This was for all the marbles in the NFC East, with the winner taking the division and the loser going home to face a long off-season, watching the playoffs from the outside looking in. A play-in game, if you will, between bitter division rivals. As regular season match-ups go, it doesn’t get much bigger than this. So we battled our hangovers and made the trip to East Rutherford, where we took a lot of pictures along the way to share with you, our loyal readers.
Despite our sterling reputation as an emerging force in new sports media, we didn’t have any press passes or fancy cameras for this one, so these photos are all from the fan’s perpective … and all of them were taken on an iPhone 4s. We hope you enjoy!
(CLICK ANY PHOTO TO EMBIGGEN):
The new MetLife stadium is quite impressive from the outside (Photo: ArtieFufkin)
(Photo: ArtieFufkin)
The rain couldn't dampen the spirits of Giants fans, who were fired up for this one (Photo: ArtieFufkin)
Romo and Co. are greeted warmly by the New York fans (Photo: ArtieFufkin)
Oooh ... fireworks! (Photo: ArtieFufkin)
CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GIANTS/COWBOYS GAME
24
Dec
2011
Victor Cruz ties NFL record with 99-yard touchdown (VIDEO)
Cromartie searches for his jock on the MetLife Stadium turf (Image via Sportsgrid.com)
We’ve got another late contender for play of the year already today.
With the Giants trailing the Jets 7-3 and looking relatively lifeless heading into the half, facing 3rd and 10 from their own 1 yard line, Eli Manning hit Victor Cruz right around the first down marker … at which point Cruz makes an unbelievable sidestep move to elude two Jets defenders and break free for the 99-yard score.
Watch as Cruz makes Antonio Cromartie look silly after the catch, then uses his speed to do the rest:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
