Giants - Vikings
1999 Preseason Game 1 - at Minnesota, 8 pm ET

Running Backs? Running Backs!
We don't need no stinkin' Running Backs!!

When Minnesota takes the field against the Giants for their first preseason game, they will be ready to tee-off against our starting Quarterback, because they know the Giants have no running game with Gary Brown, LeShon Johnson, and Joe Montgomery all out with injuries.
Well, they're in for a surprise, because when they line up and look over to the other side of the ball they will be facing Kent Graham, Kerry Collins and Mike Cherry, all three of them at once!.

That's right. Jim Fassel, down to just one healthy rookie RB - Sean Bennett, and RB Tiki Barber, who is only allowed to be used on third downs, will instead field his three big strong Quarterbacks to make up both his passing and running game.

The Quarterback Assault Offense
With three Quarterbacks on the field at one time, the Vikings will be in shock as they try to defend against a multitude of flea flickers, screenplays and laterals, peppered with the occasional short pass to new Tight End Pete Mitchell and deep passes to Ike Hilliard and Joe Jurevicius,.

That's right. Jim Fassel will revolutionize the game of football for all time. Never again will there be a Quarterback controversy on a team as all of them get to play, and the game will be much more exciting with scores that seem more in line with basketball until some team one day figures a way to somehow defend against the "Quarterback Assault Offense".

Let's get serious
I guess from what you read so far, you might think that I don't take this game very serious. Well, you're right. Preseason games aren't for winning, but are for testing. Some of the regulars will tune up, and the new guys will be tested in different situations to see how they react in a game like situation.

Sean Bennett, the lucky number 4 draft choice will get the break of his life, and star as the running back and mostly likely media favorite.
Tiki Barber might get in some extra plays, but Jim Fassel, an expert at quelling controversies will limit him to 3rd down plays and avoid even the chance of a RB controversy.
Fullbacks Charles Way and Greg Comella will do some ball carrying as well, as the Giants will be forced into using a one-back offense that uses two tight ends.
This means that we could see a lot of Howard Cross and Pete Mitchell playing together. - No Tight End controversy this first game either.

All Quarterbacks - starter Kent Graham, and backups Kerry Collins, Mike Cherry and Steve Buck are expected to play (no not at the same time), and that will be very exciting to see.

What else?
With Randall Cunningham and Randy Moss, the Vikings have a good deep passing game and much underappreciated player Percy Ellsworth gets to open against them as the Giants starting Free Safety.
Shaun Williams and Strong Safety Sam Garnes will also compete.

Also going up against the the Vikings passing game will be talented Rookie Reggie Stephens from Rutgers who will get a shot at Cornerback.
Of course Phillippi Sparks and Jeremy Lincoln will be in there too.

Giants QBs won't have to face rookie pass rusher Dimitrius Underwood the 29th pick in the NFL draft out of Michigan State.
He left the Vikings without explanation one day after signing a five-year, $5.3 million contract, citing an inner turmoil over sports and religion coexisting in his life.
Vikings coach Dennis Green said that Underwood doesn't want to play, and the Vikings have cut ties with him.

The only other item of interest is that the Giants will play an in-season home game against Minnesota on Dec 26, but that's a long way off from now to hope that anything picked up from this game will really matter by then.

Notes:
What the Giants carry into this season:
1998 Record 8 - 8
Offense 29th overall - 278.4 yds a game
Passing 28th - 160.4 yds, Running 12th - 118.1 yds
Defense 19th overall - 323.2 yds a game
Running 23rd - 125.3 yds a game
Passing 13th - 197.9 yds a game

Minnesota beat the Giants in the 1997 wildcard game by a score of 23 to 22.

Cory Miller, a former Giants player for 5 years, is now a reserve player for the Vikings and will make his debut for Minnesota in this game.

Injured players to date are:
Gary Brown, LeShon Johnson, Joe Montgomery, CB Conrad Hamilton, CB Jason Sehorn and LB Doug Colman.

Everyone - Enjoy this game, but don't take it too seriously. - Mikefan