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Jets, Giants to open new stadium

By BARRY WILNER (AP) – 3 hours ago

NEW YORK — Both the Giants and Jets wanted to open next season in the new Meadowlands Stadium. Both will.

The NFL said Monday the Giants will play on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 12, and the Jets will host a Monday night game the next day.

Opponents have not been announced; the full league schedule usually is released in early April.

"After extensive discussions with both teams, we have come up with what we believe is a unique approach for celebrating the opening of the new Meadowlands Stadium," commissioner Roger Goodell said.

The issue became somewhat contentious when the Jets announced on their Web site that a coin toss conducted by the league would determine which team opens the $1.7 billion stadium. The teams split the cost on the replacement for Giants Stadium, which they both called home since 1984.

But the league never confirmed such a decision until Monday, when it said Goodell did flip a coin for which team would play Sunday.

The Giants won, and the Jets are not happy with the process.

"An NFL coin toss has a few fundamental elements that are missing here, most notably the presence of the teams involved," Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. "That's how it's always done in the league, whether it's determining the order of the draft or deciding who's going to kick off the game.

"When the issue of which team would be hosting the first regular-season game could not be resolved on the merits, I suggested a coin toss as the fairest way to resolve this issue. The league rejected that idea. Then, I was told on Friday that a coin toss had taken place at the league office and that the Jets had lost. We rejected a process in which neither team was present. The league departed from our time-honored tradition and declined the opportunity to set the matter straight with a transparent process."

The Giants had no complaints.

"We look forward to playing the first regular-season game ever in the new stadium," Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said. "We have a great new home, and it's right next door to Giants Stadium, a building that housed our three Super Bowl championship teams. We look forward to building the same legacy for our new stadium, and it starts on Sept. 12."

Goodell said the teams' ownership were passionate about being the first to play at home. He concluded that the fairest resolution would be to play both teams at home on the opening weekend and to use the coin flip.

The Jets will host the first NFL game at the new stadium during the preseason in August.

Only once have the Giants and Jets opened a regular season on the same weekend at Giants Stadium. In 1991, the Jets played Tampa Bay on Sunday, Sept. 1, and the Giants hosted the 49ers on Monday night, Sept. 2.

VDesai wrote:Starphucking would be the Jets signing LaDanian Tomlinson. So far we've made 2 moves, one very modest, and the other was for a young player at a key position of need.

Last offseason and this offseason names have played a component in "improving"... that's where the comment comes from

just met Brian Mitchell at a local bar in VA & got his autograph... told him i remember him from his Giants days & he was a real chill dude... too bad he only had pics of himself in a Skins' uni.

The Giants have signed free-agent safety Deon Grant, the team has announced. Grant arrived for a visit early Thursday and indications were he was close to a deal before he even landed. That proved to be the case, as he inked his deal quickly.

Terms of the contract are not yet available.

The signing of Grant made safety C.C. Brown expendable, and the Giants withdrew the offer they had made to the restricted free agent."

We got Feagles yo.

CC was one of the worst players in the NFL and Grant is a decent vet. This was a really good swap for us and we know have quite a bit of depth at safety, which was our thinnest position last year and a spot where were ultimately exposed.

We still need to do something about our LBs and DTs but things are shaping up in the secondary.

Skins offered Albert Haynesworth to Philly in the McNabb trade but were denied... Haynesworth doesn't want to play the NG in the 3-4 Shannahan utilizes... we run the 4-3... would u trade Osi for Haynesworth if u could?

Giants' Fewell assembling new-look defense

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By Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson

The Giants’ defense is going to look different next season. Perry Fewell is taking over as defensive coordinator and he has new philosophies about how he wants his defense to play. Last year, New York struggled a great deal in coverage from the linebacker and safety positions. Injuries are much to blame at safety, but at linebacker, they lacked speed and playmaking ability. In turn, starting middle linebacker Antonio Pierce was let go and surely there will be a premium on improving at this position through the draft.

In essence, Fewell will play a version of the Tampa 2. In this defense, it is imperative that the entire defense is able to cover a lot of ground. This is true in coverage and in pursuit of the ball carrier in the run game. Fewell wants a lot of bodies around the football. He wants playmakers. He wants speed. All of this was lacking a year ago.

Antrel Rolle was signed to a big-money deal to be one of the Giants’ starting safeties. Rolle entered the league as a first-round cornerback and when compared to other safeties, he covers a lot of ground. Kenny Phillips is coming off a major injury, but if right, he certainly is not the typical in-the-box strong safety. In fact, if both of these University of Miami alumni are in peak physical condition, few teams in the league will be able to match the overall athletic ability that New York will feature at the safety position. That is a far cry from what the Giants played with at safety in 2009.

The same probably can be said for the middle linebacker spot. Pierce is gone and is clearly too slow to flourish in Fewell’s scheme. Many have pigeon-holed Alabama’s Rolando McClain in as the Giants’ first-round selection, but I tend to think that Missouri’s Sean Weatherspoon will be the more attractive option in the middle of Round 1. The reason is simple: Weatherspoon runs better than McClain. He can get to the football quicker on the perimeter and will be more adept at covering the deep middle of the field in coverage.

Another very interesting player in this scheme is second-year LB Clint Sintim, who is poised to become the starter. A 3-4 outside linebacker in college, he brings size and upfield pass rush to the position. He also could put his hand on the ground if needed. But he brings a skill set to the table that Fewell did not have at his disposal last year, although the Bills did draft Aaron Maybin in the first round last season to play this role. Maybin’s rookie year was a wash, but Sintim could be a breakout player if used properly.

The biggest problem with this defensive philosophy is in some cases, size and physicality at the point of attack is compromised for speed. Last year, Tampa Bay was the only team that was gashed for more yards per rushing attempt than the Fewell-led Bills defense, but this Giants’ defensive line is more talented than the one Fewell dealt with in 2009. Still, this defensive tackle rotation could really use a wide-bodied nose tackle type to utilize on early downs and to better free up a run-and-hit middle linebacker. If the Giants chose Dan Williams from Tennessee in Round 1 to fill this need, I would have no problem with that, but there are a few players who fit this bill who could be had for a second-round selection like North Carolina’s Cam Thomas.

But, last year, only the Jets allowed fewer average yards per attempt in the passing game and only the Packers intercepted more passes than Buffalo. Meanwhile the Giants only intercepted 13 passes all season and were among the worst defenses in passing yards against per attempt. Getting to the ball with many tacklers very abruptly and putting more emphasis on turning their opponent over is sure to come with Fewell manning the defensive controls. While the Cover-2 is his base scheme, he isn’t static in his play calling and does have a good feel for mixing in different looks and blitzes.

Also, last year the Bills had too many yards allowed from penalties. Does that come down to coaching or just being undermanned in terms of personnel? The answer is probably a little bit of both and it is something to keep an eye on with Fewell’s latest assignment.

Giants’ fans should be in store for some major changes on defense. For the most part, and if the right players are acquired in the draft, I see that as a good thing.

Always said Sintim was key. I like Weatherspoon via draft too, but still think McClain can run side to side and drop back. I'm excited by this new look.

Health is key. The Giants pass defense was awful last year, but they don't have bad personnell, especially after this offseason. Terrell Thomas, Corey Webster and Aaron Ross are a very good top 3, and Kenny Phillips, Antrell Rolle and Deon Grant are probably the best trio of safties we had in quite a while. Bruce Johnson and Michael Johnson should continue to come along- there is a lot of talent there so we just need to make this thing work.

these news writers will twist anything into a negative to create controversy... if u read through Eli's comments he has nothing but high praise for Osi's attitude this offseason, but the opening line wants to make it seem like he's bashing on his teammate... ridiculous.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/giants/el...

Eli Manning says he didn't put much stock in Osi Umenyiora's recent verbal tiff with the Giants because the All-Pro defensive end has "said some dumb things before."

Manning feels his suspicions have been confirmed by Umenyiora's demeanor and work ethic during the Giants' offseason program that began last month.

Like the rest of an angry Big Blue, Manning said Umenyiora appears determined to bounce back from a miserably disappointing 2009 season.

"If you have a rough season like the Giants did last year, you get frustrated and say some things that you don't really mean, and I think that was just part of that," Manning said of Umenyiora's threat to retire if coach Tom Coughlin didn't guarantee him a starting job.
Kevin P. CoughlinGIANT MISUNDERSTANDING: Quarterback Eli Manning (above) says he is confident Osi Umenyiora was just spouting off in anger at how last season ended when the defensive end threatened to retire if he doesn't get to start.

"A little frustration set in, but I think [Umenyiora] is past that. I think he'll have a great year and a great attitude. He was coming off an injury, and that takes time to heal up. By this year, he'll be as good as new."

Manning said Umenyiora has been one of the most vocal participants in the offseason program, leading the quarterback to predict a big bounce-back for his talkative teammate.

"He's been at the facility, he's been working hard, showing great enthusiasm and energy," Manning said last night during a promotional appearance in SoHo. "Osi's been his same self, smiling and in good spirits. He's ready to have a big season for us. I don't think there's anything to talk about, other than him being ready to go."

Manning said he feels the same about himself and the rest of the Giants, who are still smarting from last year's 8-8 swoon just two seasons after winning the Super Bowl.

"It's not anger," Manning said. "Guys were just itching to get back. I started getting the calls and the text messages [from teammates] a couple of weeks before they started, which was different. Everybody wants to get that bad taste out of their mouth."

Manning said he is confident the Giants can do that, thanks in part to a change in coordinators and the addition of two talented safeties in Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant to a porous defense that nearly set the franchise record for points allowed.

Big Blue hasn't lost its swagger, Manning said.

"We have the right guys and the right players, a lot of talent on both sides of the ball," Manning said. "It's just a matter of putting everything together and having the right chemistry that we really didn't have last year."

^What do you expect from the NY Post? They will do anything to raise trouble.

I want McLain in the first round to shore up the MLB spot but I would not mind CJ Spiller if we decide to go that way.

Rolando McLain

CJ Spiller

NYKBocker wrote:I want McLain in the first round to shore up the MLB spot but I would not mind CJ Spiller if we decide to go that way.

Rolando McLain

CJ Spiller

I'm okay with both those guys and will add Mike Iupati to the list

I like Sean Weatherspoon a lot.

I'm really pumped for this draft... the team needs a lot of help and I'm excited to see how those holes get filled. LB, OL, DB, RB

I think there'll be a good MLB available in the second and I think Iupati is a future Pro Bowler so I'm actually hoping for that pick

But whatever... there's going to be a really good player available at 15 because this draft feels really very deep. If the Giants could get a first or second for that whiny little girl Usi, I'd be pumped. I'm tired of reading about his childish behavior. Do what's good for the team

Rolando McClain, C.J. Spiller (w/ Sean Lee in 2nd Rd) or Dan Williams and I'll be happy.

Iupati would be a really nice addition. We need another strong interior lineman

When the Giants say that you can't have enough passrushers, they really friggin believe it. They drafted DE Jason-Pierre Paul who has a freakish first step and will likely serve as a passrush specialist. Either Osi is on the move or they are going to have to figure out how to play 4 DE again...

VDesai wrote:When the Giants say that you can't have enough passrushers, they really friggin believe it. They drafted DE Jason-Pierre Paul who has a freakish first step and will likely serve as a passrush specialist. Either Osi is on the move or they are going to have to figure out how to play 4 DE again...

I saw Jason Pierre-Paul a few years ago I wanted the Giant to draft this kid then and now here he is two years later. I'm happy with this pick. You can't have enough pass rushers. People are sleeping on the Giants defense its not as bad as it was last year. It goes to show that a good defensive coordinator is necessary to get the players in the right spot and to get a good scheme to go with the talent. That is the basis for Spags and past Giant great teams with Bill Parcells and Bilicheck. Lets hope that Fewell can get this group playing hard and come up with schemes to stifle opponents.

More than LB the Giants need to invest in a good running back. Jacobs is proving to be an injury prone runner and has a tendency to become twinkle toes. He doesn't run hard like he did in the past. The loss of Ward was big. Need to get a running back in that can take over once Brandon Jacobs goes down and he will go down that is a given.

Giants will be ok at RB if Bradshaw stays healthy, but they will probably add a slashing RB later. But keep in mind they drafted Andre Brown to do that last year and they are expecting him to come back healthy this year.

There's a lot of value at DT still next round and that's where I'd go. Lamarr Houston or Brian Price would be a nice pick for the Giants. They may also look to add another CB (can't have enough depth there) or someone along the offensive line (remember the name Vlad Ducasse).