3
Oct
2011
Did the Refs Cost Arizona the Game on Victor Cruz’ fumble/non-fumble? (VIDEO)
Clearly nobody touched Cruz while he was on the ground (Photo: Getty Images via WashingtonPost.com)
This is undoubtedly the most controversial play of Week 4 in the NFL.
From yesterday’s Giants-Cardinals game, with New York trailing by 3 points and driving with 2:46 remaining, Eli Manning hit WR Victor Cruz for a 19-yard completion. At the end of the play, Cruz fell to the ground, put the ball on the grass and stood up to return to the huddle. One problem: Cruz wasn’t touched by a Cardinals defender while he was down, so theoretically, the ball should still be alive. Or that’s at least what most everyone watching the play assumed, and Arizona jumped on the ball, thinking they had secured a crucial turnover.
But not so fast. Referee Jerome Booger had blown the play dead, ruling that Cruz had “given himself up” on the play. Because of that ruling, and despite a challenge flag thrown by Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt, the play was not reviewable.
Watch the play for yourself, and decide if Cruz should have been ruled down:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
25
Sep
2011
Michael Vick breaks hand as Giants defeat Eagles 29-16 (VIDEO)
Vick got roughed up again today in Philly (Photo 30fps.com)
2nd UPDATE: According to Eagles HC Andy Reid, Vick’s hand is NOT broken, it’s just a bruise, and Vick could possibly play in Week 4
____________________________
Remember when everyone was prematurely handing the Eagles the NFC East crown – and some the Super Bowl – during the off-season??? Well that’s why they play the games, folks.
Eagles QB Michael Vick left the game during the 4th quarter with a broken right hand and the New York Giants beat Philadelphia 29-16 today at Lincoln Financial Field. Eli Manning threw 4 touchdowns as the Giants improved to 2-1, while Philadelphia falls to 1-2 after back-to-back losses. It is unknown how long Vick - who came into the game dealing with the effects of a concussion – will be out. UPDATE: According to reports, Vick could miss 3-4 weeks.
The Giants jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on the strength of 2 big plays – a 40-yard passing score to Brandon Jacobs and a 74-yard touchdown reception by Victor Cruz (video after the jump). Cruz, who was starting in place of the injured Mario Manningham and Domenik Hixon, had a breakout performance today, finishing with 2 TDs and 110 yards receiving. Vick and the Eagles were able to regain the momentum, battling back to take a 16-14 lead midway through the third quarter, but from there the Giants defense tightened up, and their front four continued to reign down blows on Vick, with Chris Canty seemingly delivering the knockout shot:
[Video via CosbySweaters]
Vick went to the locker room for X-rays shortly after this hit, but returned to the game without missing a play, only to exit for good a few minutes later. Most speculated it was Vick’s head (or possibly mouth/tongue) after the hit from Canty, but we later learned he had broken his right – non-throwing – hand. It’s difficult to tell whether that injury came on the same play or not, possibly when Vick put his right hand down to break his fall.
Without Vick in the game, the Giants were able to put things away with 4th quarter scores from Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw, with the vaunted Philadelphia defense putting on a shoddy display of tackling in the process. Watch the first TD by Cruz, where the Eagles secondary looks more like the keystone cops than a bunch of highly paid all-stars.
(Image via Gifulmination.com)
WATCH VICTOR CRUZ’S 74-YARD TD AFTER THE JUMP
20
Sep
2011
Domenik Hixon makes incredible juggling TD catch (VIDEO)
(Photo: SeattlePI.com)
Domenik Hixon made an early bid for catch of the year with this juggling touchdown grab from last night’s Giants-Rams game.
The play came late in the first half, with the Giants driving at the Rams 22-yard line. Eli Manning took the shotgun snap and lofted a pass over the top of the defense for Hixon, who was working against S Craig Dahl in the endzone. The ball bounced of Hixon’s left shoulder, but as both players fell to the ground, the receiver was somehow able to locate it in the around and reel in the circus catch for the score.
Watch one of the best catches you’ll ever see below:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
22
Jun
2011
Eli & Peyton Manning in “Football Cops” (VIDEO)
(Image via DirecTV.com)
With the lockout giving NFL athletes even more time than usual to hawk products for huge endorsement deals, it should come as no surprise that two of the game’s most prolific pitchmen – the Manning brothers – are taking things to the next level with their new promotion. Football Cops is being presented as a new original drama from DirecTV, featuring Peyton and Eli as Mike Tahoe and C.J Hunter, two mustachioed partners who use their rocket arms as crime-fighting weapons.
And despite the fact that DirecTV is playing this up as a real new series, and even has 3 “episodes” listed on the website, its hard to believe that this will actually be a recurring full-length television program. If anything, it’s far more likely to become an unavoidable marketing onslaught of commercials and short-format viral videos that we’ll have to endure over and over (and over) this Fall, until the very sound of the theme music makes our ears bleed.
But before it gets to that point, enjoy the official trailer for Football Cops:
Yeah … as much as we love the Fu Manchu mustache on Eli (let’s face it, anything that helps butch him up a bit is a good thing), and seeing Archie getting into the act as defense attorney Orlando Midnight, we’re going to reserve judgement about this “show”. There’s a pretty good chance we’ll grow to hate it in time.
26
Dec
2010
Giants fall apart with SIX turnovers in Green Bay
Yes Eli, something does stink ... hint, it's you (Photo: NJ.com)
Well, I guess we know how last week’s loss to the Eagles – now being referred to as “The Crumble” – affected the New York Giants. With a chance to clinch a wild card spot in the NFC, Tom Coughlin’s club unraveled today in Green Bay, committing SIX turnovers (2 fumbles, 4 INTs) en route to a 45-15 beating at the hands of the Packers.
Aaron Rodgers was the star of the day with a season-high 404 yards and 4 TDs, as the Packers QB found receivers running free in the Giants defensive secondary all day long. Once praised as one of the best coordinators in the league, Perry Fewell‘s defense has been exposed in the past few weeks. And today New York followed up last week’s collapse by allowing over 500 yards to an opposing offense for the first time in 30 years. There was almost no pressure on from the vaunted Giants defensive front, and with time to find his receivers, Rodgers made it look easy out there. It really felt like Green Bay could move the ball down the field and score at will.
But for New York, the story of the game was the turnovers. Led by Eli Manning’s four interceptions, the Giants seemed to shoot themselves in the foot every chance they got. Both Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw chipped in with a fumble a piece, but Manning set the tone with a bad interception in the first quarter that helped Green Bay jump out to an early 14-0 lead. From there, it was a comedy of errors for the Giants, who essentially crapped the bed with their playoff destiny in their own hands.
Despite all this, the 9-6 Giants still have a chance to make the post-season (with a lot of help from other teams) … but let’s face it, this team is dead in the water. For the second year in a row, Tom Coughlin’s team got off to a great start in the first half of the season and fell apart when it mattered most. Meanwhile, with the victory, the Packers (also 9-6) can clinch a wild card berth with a win at home against NFC North champion Chicago next week.
21
Dec
2010
VIDEO: Eli Manning hosts the loneliest press conference ever
This is from the post-game of the Giants’ epic collapse against the Eagles on Sunday at the New Meadowlands … and apparently the entire NY press corps was over in the Eagles locker room slobbering over Michael Vick, because Eli Manning showed up for his press conference to find this:
Thank goodness that one guy showed up, huh?
It looks like Eli was just going to launch into his best Nuke Laloosh canned press spiel anyway, so he was probably psyched he might not actually have to answer any questions. Besides, Eli threw for 289 yards and 4 TDs, so he shouldn’t take too much heat … that comeback is on the Giants defense.
20
Nov
2010
A look inside…
Pat Hanlon of the New York Giants shared this photo Saturday of quarterback Eli Manning talking with NBC’s production crew in preparation for Sunday night’s grudge-battle between the Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.
Eli: student of the game. (Source: Pat Hanlon, Giants)
19
Nov
2010
Li’l Peyton warns Li’l Eli of scary green monsters (cartoon)
This comes to us courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles, who posted it as the splash intro video on their home page today. Apparently this is the Eagles’ weekly attempt to taunt their upcoming opponent … who in this case are the New York Giants.
I’ve never seen any of their cartoons before, but this one’s actually not bad. Not as funny as the Bang Cartoons, but not bad … I laughed at loud at the way Eli talks:
The Eagles defense picked off Peyton twice and sacked him three times in their meeting two weeks ago, but if I’m the Giants this week, I’m probably more scared of Michael Vick than I am of the Eagles D. This game could be an offensive shootout.
But again, this is an official Eagles cartoon. Is this really what they’re spending their time on in Philly these days? Does this even qualify as trash talk? It’s more cute than anything. Certainly not going to get the Giants locker room any more fired up than they already are.
25
Oct
2010
Giants Drop Cowboys to 1-5, Add Tony Romo To Body Count (VIDEO)
Tony Romo is the latest victim of the Giants defense (Image via KissingSuzyKolber)
The New York Giants defense has been terrorizing opposing signal-callers all season long. In the first six games, their relentless pass rush took three starting QBs out of action: Matt Moore (CAR) – Concussion; Jay Cutler (CHI) – Concussion; and Shaun Hill (DET) – Broken arm (not to mention Cutler’s back-up, Todd Collins).
And during tonight’s 41-35 win over Dallas, the G-Men added Tony Romo to the body count, knocking him out of the game with a fractured left clavicle. Romo is expected to miss 8-10 weeks, leaving his – along with the rest of the Cowboys’ – season very much in doubt. The injury came in the second quarter when, LB Michael Boley came in untouched on a blitz and planted Romo into the turf (cleanly, mind you):
19
Sep
2010
Live Game Blog: Manning Bowl II – Colts vs Giants
The Manning Bowl resumes tonight in Indianapolis (minus Cooper)
It’s been a great Sunday of football so far, but the most hyped match-up the NFL this weekend is tonight’s Manning Bowl II (aka the Colts vs Giants), in which the brothers Manning will square off for the second time as pros. The first time – in 2006 – Peyton got the better of Eli and the Giants with a 26-21 win. This time around, Eli has a lot more experience to go with the best receiving corps he’s ever had.
Aside from the QBs, the Colts are trying to bounce back from a beating at the hands of the Houston Texans in Week 1, but will do so without their best defensive player, Bob Sanders, who may be lost for the season. The Giants will look to create pressure and turnovers on defense, with a unit that looks re-energized under new DC Perry Fewell. If they can’t get to Peyton and force him to hurry, this could be a high-scoring affair.
Believe it or not, there are 20 other players involved in tonight's game. We couldn't find any pictures of those guys.
We’re going to be following tonight’s Colts/Giants game using our new CoverItLive chat interface feature (below) … if you’re watching the game and are bored, join us in making fun of the Manning brothers, cringing at Cris Collinsworth, and calling for the heads of the horrible NFL refs. No big whoop.
JOIN IN THE CHAT AFTER THE JUMP
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