Mar 9 For the first time in his NFL career, Osi Umenyiora will be a free agent. As he prepares to hit the open market Tuesday, the 10-year veteran defensive end has a few things he's looking for in a team. And one very lofty personal goal.
"It wouldn't have to be a playoff team," Umenyiora said Friday on the NFL Network. "It could be anybody pretty much anybody who would need me to help them win, and anybody who I think is going to put me in a situation to win Defensive Player of the Year, which is what I am going to do this year."
Of course, in order to win that award, Umenyiora would need to see plenty of snaps. So he's going to want to go to a team that will give him plenty of playing time and also pay him as well."

Victor Cruz's feel-good story could turn sour in free agency. The NFL's free agency period is about to begin, and if Cruz and the Giants somehow end up parting ways (a slim but distinct possibility), the abiding lesson involved will be much less palatable than Cruz's heart-tugging one: The NFL is, and always will be, business first, emotion second.

Three key players from the Giants' last Super Bowl championship team have already been booted out the door, and it's possible more could follow in the next few days. The Giants have 16 unrestricted free agents. They're coming off a disappointing, playoff-less season.
The Giants reportedly have around $10 million in cap space thus far. They still could create more room if they restructure more deals or cut other players. The Giants will focus on re-signing many of their own free agents and restricted free agents.

Stadium News
The New York Giants are keeping their prices the same for season ticket holders for the fourth straight year. Parking, however, will increase $5 per game.

Mar 8 Cornerback Corey Webster is coming off a sub-par 2012 season and was scheduled to make $7 million in base salary for the 2013 season. It was an unhealthy combination that wasn't going to come to fruition.
A source confirmed Webster agreed to take a pay cut in the final year of his contract. NFL Network first reported that Webster's base salary will go from the $7 million he was scheduled to earn to a new base of $4 million.

With the official start of free agency just four days away, and the league's new, three-day free agency negotiating window set to kick off at midnight on Friday, the Giants cleared about $6M in cap space by re-working the contracts of center David Baas and cornerback Corey Webster.

The Giants made an offer to safety Kenny Phillips in the hopes of keeping him off the open market. But it wasn't nearly enough, according to an NFL source, and any chance of Phillips re-signing in the next few days appear gone.
It wasn't immediately clear what Phillips is looking for in a new contract, but the Giants are apparently being cautious with the 26-year-old who missed nine games last season with a sprained right MCL.

Mar 7 Special Report - Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin has penned another book, this one titled "Earn the Right to Win," and Wednesday was the official release in bookstores. So it made perfect sense that Wednesday he appeared on many, many radio and television shows, disguised as a salesman. Coughlin has explained many times that his motivation was to "keep everyone" [i.e., the players] off-balance and unsure of themselves and, you know, it worked wonderfully well.

Tom Coughlin said the Giants did not interview Manti Te'o at the NFL scouting combine and that he will have to do "more research" on the Notre Dame linebacker.
After seeing how his team came together as one focused unit during the 2011 Super Bowl run, Tom Coughlin thought that he should share what made the Giants so successful with the public.

Mar 6 Tom Coughlin wouldn't name names. But the Giants coach said, yes, his staff has reached out to college coaches for insight on defending the read option and other offensive trends that are trickling up to the NFL level.
Coughlin admitted the uncertainty around Victor Cruz's Giants future is difficult for a coach. Cruz is a restricted free agent, so the Giants can keep him for this season with a tender. When asked if they can count on having Cruz in 2013, Coughlin said, "I think so."

It is highly likely the Giants will ask Corey Webster and/or David Diehl to take a pay cut in order to remain on the roster. They've already cut Ahmad Bradshaw, Chris Canty and Michael Boley in salary cap-related-maneuverings. Free agency begins next Tuesday and the Giants have a load of their own players to consider in what can be an unsettling situation.

Tom Coughlin's "Earn the Right to Win," is available in bookstores. Coughlin is entering his 10th season with the Giants, his 18th as an NFL head coach and his 45th as a football coach. Yet many of the stories in his book are fresh and revealing and, for someone with a reputation for being rigid and uncompromising, quite humorous. .

Mar 5 The Giants opted not to use their franchise tag by Monday's deadline, as expected. The Giants have used the franchise tag only three times since the system began in 1993, on tackle Jumbo Elliott (1993), running back Brandon Jacobs (2009) and last year on punter Steve Weatherford.

NFL News
Joe Flacco has agreed to a six-year- $120.6 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens that makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history (just slightly ahead of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees). Flacco's bet on himself, the one he made last summer, has paid off and let's just say he hit the jackpot.
Lauren Silberman struggles during history-making appearance at NFL Regional Combine. After two failed attempts, Silberman, the first female ever to attend a regional combine event, stopped due to injury. The league was not sure if her appearance was a publicity stunt.

Mar 2 David Carr, the former No. 1 overall pick who has backed up Manning for four of the past five seasons, is expected to test the free-agent market later this month. Carr hopes to listen to interest from other teams.
The most likely spot would seem to be with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who according to one league source had some interest in him before he re-signed with the Giants before last season. The Buccaneers' offensive coordinator is former Giants quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan.
The Giants have already signed 27-year old Curtis Painter as a possible replacement as the No. 2 quarterback. Painter was once Peyton Manning's backup with the Colts so he's well-versed in sitting and watching an established Manning take the field.

Mar 1 Ramses Barden believes he can contribute more in the NFL than just the 29 catches for 394 yards, and no regular-season touchdowns, he netted in four seasons with the Giants. So when the receiver becomes a free agent in less than two weeks, he's looking to move on.
Barden said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "As much fun as I have had in New York and yeah, I am comfortable there, it is probably best for me to start looking other places, for a new system, for a refreshed sense of welcoming. I think everybody can benefit from newness in their lives. And this is going to be one of those for me."

Tight end Martellus Bennett recently tweeted that he's "not feeling the love" from the Giants thus far. "they have other priorities that come before little ole me. I'm just a small piece of what they're trying to do there." And then: "It's all business at the end of the day."

The Giants created a hole in the middle of their defensive line early this off-season when they released Chris Canty. Now they might be looking to fill that hole with Cullen Jenkins, an Eagles castoff who never found a new home in Philly.

Feb 28 The one player headed to unrestricted free agency the Giants absolutety, positively had to re-sign was Will Beatty, the athletic left tackle who looked to be a fixture on their offensive line for years to come.
The move is a big one for the Giants. They retain a major piece of their offensive line at a reasonable price for a starting left tackle. The Giants consider Beatty, who will turn 28 on Saturday, an up-and-coming guy, and they didn't have to break the bank to keep him.
"It's good to be home," Beatty said. "It's a great feeling. You could be going through free agency, but when that happens a lot of stuff is going through your mind. That feeling is no longer there. You're settled in with a great team, a team I love playing for. I know the coaching staff. I'm looking forward to getting back in it and moving forward."

Feb 26 The Giants still have a lot of work to do to create some operating room under the salary cap before the free-agent market opens on March 12. They continued that work late last week with a minor restructure of Mathias Kiwanuka's contract.
Linebacker/defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka signed a simple restructure of his contract last Thursday, converting an already guaranteed $1.5 million portion of his 2013 base salary to a signing bonus.

Feb 24 On general manager Jerry Reese's offseason to-do list was meeting with defensive captain Justin Tuck. "Obviously, Justin hasn't played as well as we think he can play and what kind of player he has shown to be in the past," Reese said. "And he knows that."
Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have insinuated that the team won't be using the franchise tag this offseason. Reese backed off those claims Saturday. "John and Steve Tisch, they own the team so they can say whatever they want, but I like to say that we like to keep all of our options open with respect to that," the GM said.
On if David Wilson is now the number one running back on the depth chart: "Well, it's competition. That's what we try to do at the Giants. We try to create competition. There will be competition at the running back spot just like all the other positions. He (David Wilson), along with Andre Brown and Da'Rel Scott, those three guys right now."

Tom Coughlin and many others in the NFL may not know all the intricacies of "catfishing," but the Giants, like everybody else, will try to get to the bottom of the Te'o scandal. "Our younger people, our younger scouts can explain it better than I can," Reese said, when asked about "catfishing" and whether the 66-year-old Coughlin understands it fully.
Jerry Reese said the most important answers he's looking for are on Te'o's game film. "We're more interested in what kind of football player he is more than anything else," Reese said today. "I think that these things get blown out of proportion a little bit. But we'll investigate it, and we'll see where it goes."

Feb 23 At the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine Tom Coughlin talked about how hard it was to part ways with Bradshaw, Chris Canty and Michael Boley after the Giants released those three veterans to clear cap space and move in a different direction.
Starting receiver Hakeem Nicks and center David Baas needed offseason surgery for injuries suffered during the season, coach Tom Coughlin said Friday. Baas had "multiple" procedures, according to a person with knowledge of his condition. That person requested anonymity because Coughlin did not disclose the surgeries, saying only that they were "on his body."
Coughlin was asked if he had come to any realizations about the season in terms of what went wrong? "Not that I'm going to share. I've seen conclusions and I have my own ideas and that type of thing."

Ramses Barden started only one game in his four-year career with the Giants. It was Sept. 20 of last season in Charlotte and he was unstoppable. Barden is set to become an unrestricted free agent and, though the Giants have some interest in re-signing him, Barden - healthy and only 27 years old - will hit the open market on March 12.

NFC East News
NFC East - Who will be each team's biggest salary-cap casualty this offseason?

Feb 22 Chris Snee had hip surgery earlier this week, timetable on return yet to be decided Snee gutted out a torn labrum and bone chips in his hip all the way through the Pro Bowl before undergoing surgery.
Snee, who recently turned 31, will be entering his 10th season and has missed only six starts in his career. Snee recently told Giants.com that he and his wife, Kate, have been contemplating his future.

Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks make up a dynamic receiving duo, but can the Giants hang on to both? John Mara hopes Nicks and Cruz are both Giants 'for a long time'.
The co-owner also spoke confidently about the status of head coach Tom Coughlin, saying there's "no reason to think" the two-time Super Bowl winning coach would not at least finish out his contract with the team which expires in 2014.

Stadium News
Some South Bergen area mayors will withhold services on Super Bowl Sunday. "The stadium, owned by the New York Jets and New York Giants, has done little to help offset any costs for the surrounding communities when larger events occur at the stadium," the release read.

Feb 20 This season represents another chance for Terrell Thomas, who last week worked out a new contract to return to the Giants. He also wonders if this season will be Tom Coughlin's last. "I think he wants to go out on top," Thomas said. "Hopefully, we can get it right, and bring a Super Bowl home in Giants Stadium."
When asked about free agent defensive end Osi Umenyiora, Thomas said he thinks he will be back with the Giants next season, despite many contract squabbles between him and the oragnization of the years. "That's my guy right there. I love playing behind him."
The cornerback was also asked about what went wrong last year for the Giants, who missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record. "We really don't know," said Thomas. "Talking to the other players, we were 6-2 at the midpoint and kind of went downhill after that."

Feb 19 The Giants are one of seven teams that have only used their franchise player designation three times or less on offense, defense or special teams since the system began in 1993. So, considering that the Giants don't use their franchise tags much at all, it's possible Jerry Reese could opt not to use it this year. And if he does, he might use it with the same intention as he did with Jacobs and Weatherford. Tackle Will Beatty is likely the leading franchise-tag candidate if the Giants opted to use it.

Feb 18 Eli Manning is the "franchise" for the Giants. But the question for the Giants this week is who, if anyone, will get the "franchise tag'? Beginning on Monday, and for a two-week period that runs through March 4, teams can slap the "franchise tag" or "transition tag" on any of their free agents, essentially pulling them off the free-agent market that opens on March 12.

Feb 17 The Giants cut ties with Chase Blackburn once, but they are not planning to do so again. There's a good chance the hard-working middle linebacker will be back for a ninth season, but only if the price is right. The Giants already have parted ways with a starting linebacker this offseason, releasing Michael Boley last week.

Feb 16 Andre Brown is a restricted free agent, but knows the Giants will tender him. "I'm looking forward to being a Giant," Brown told the New York Post. Brown also told the Post that he's ready to compete for the starting running back job now that Ahmad Bradshaw is gone.

Feb 15 Panthers' Thomas Davis inspires Terrell Thomas in comeback from third ACL surgery. Davis, the Panthers linebacker, was doing exactly what Thomas, the Giants cornerback, was imagining: returning from a third ACL surgery on the same knee.

Will Lawrence Tynes go or will he stay? After kicking the Giants into two Super Bowls with game-winning field goals in the NFC Championship game during the 2007 and 2011 seasons, Tynes is entering free agency.

Feb 14 Faced with losing Lawrence Tynes to free agency, the Giants signed veteran kicker David Buehler. According to an NFL source Tynes would like to see if a big pay day awaits him on the open market.
Buehler, who turned 26 last week, was with the Dallas Cowboys from 2009-2011. He handled kickoff duties throughout the first two of those seasons and in four games in 2011. He underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip on Dec. 11. Buehler did not play in 2012.
Lawrence Tynes has as many memorable and historic kicks for the Giants than any kicker in their history but he is a free agent and there is no guarantee he will be back.

Much of the 2013 outlook will be impacted by Corey Webster's future. The Giants hope Amukamara will continue to ascend and play like their top corner this coming season. The Giants could sign some free agent corners and possibly draft one as well.

Setting out to find the best 25 players under 25 years of age - 11 offense, 11 defense, a kicker, a punter and one extra defender accounting for 4-3 and 3-4 alignments - NFL analyst Elliot Harrison named Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to his "All-Under-25 Team."

Feb 13 The Giants cleared some cap space by releasing Michael Boley. Chase Blackburn and Keith Rivers are free agents but the Giants could look into bringing either or both back for cheap.

David Wilson ready for whatever team asks At this time last year, Wilson was preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine and the ensuing draft.

Former Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw would not close the door on a return to his former team. But in an interview with NFL Network today, Bradshaw wouldn't rule out another move that would keep him close to home.
Ahmad Bradshaw is still interested in continuing his NFL career in New York - and it doesn't necessarily have to be with the Giants. The Daily News has learned that the Jets aren't interested in adding the injury-prone Bradshaw.

NFL News
The NFL, in preparing for the possibility of a winter storm during the 2014 Super Bowl, has laid out an "extensive contingency plan." The NFL has considered the possibility of playing the game on Saturday, Feb. 1, or even delaying the game several days if a nor'easter is forecast to hit the Northeast the weekend of the game.

Feb 12 Giants have re-signed Terrell Thomas. Terrell Thomas has played his entire NFL career at cornerback, but he's open to switching positions if it will help him get on the field.
Thomas' comeback is a challenging and rare one. The only known precedent in the NFL is Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who played 15 games last season after three ACL tears in the same knee in a span of three years.
Before he missed back-to-back seasons, Thomas was a rising star, amassing 10 interceptions in 2009 and 2010 to develop into the team's best cornerback.
The details of Thomas' new deal weren't immediately known, but a person with knowledge of it said it is either a one-year deal or essentially a one-year deal.

Giants tackle David Diehl pleaded guilty to drunk driving. Diehl was originally arrested last June in Astoria, after crashing his vehicle into two parked cars. Diehl will be under court supervision for six months, and the plea is conditioned on certain court-imposed requirements, according to the district attorney's office. He must proceed with the NFL substance-abuse treatment program, pay up to $1,200 to the owners of the damaged vehicles and participate in a victim awareness program. He must also wear a SCRAM bracelet that tracks his alcohol intake for 90 days.

NFC East News
Eagles - Michael Vick took a significant pay cut to stay with the Philadelphia Eagles and compete for a starting job..
Eagles - If you need a quarterback in 2013, as new Eagles coach Chip Kelly does, your best bet is to amass as many intriguing candidates as possible and find out what works.
Cowboys - Tony Romo needs to earn it. For some reason Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has consistently neglected the position of quarterback for more than a decade.
Cowboys - In regards to staff moves, Jerry Jones wanted to make sure everyone understood that Jason Garrett 'made those changes.
Redskins - D.C. mayor backpedals on Redskins name change. He's now backpedaling faster than Darrell Green in the wake of comments Gray made last month suggesting that he wants the team to change its name.
Redskins - Santana Moss is entering the final year of a three-year deal signed in 2011. Can the Redskins afford to carry him? Moss proved last season that despite his age, he can still have an impact.

Feb 10 When Osi Umenyiora signed his contract "extension" last June, he took what his former agent told him was a "substandard" deal in return for the right to become a free agent in 2013. What he wanted more than anything was a chance to see what his value would be on the open market. The Giants agreed to let him have it. Nothing has changed.

Former Giants
Bill Parcells' Hall of Fame bust starts here as Daily News takes you inside the vote that made Tuna Canton bound. This year, it was my responsibility to make the presentation on Parcells. Parcells made it to the final 10 last year. This was Parcells' fourth shot - the first two came between the NY Jets and Dallas Cowboys jobs, when voters were wary that he would coach again - which he did.

Feb 9 Special Report - If you were paying attention last season, beyond the injuries, the inconsistency, the chatter, the inexplicable losses and the inability to secure a playoff spot just a season after winning it all, you saw the Giants struggle against a particular style of play, notably the Read-Option run by the Washington Redskins and their spectacular quarterback, Robert Griffin III.
You also saw others struggle with RG-3 as well as with Seattle's Russell Wilson and the Seahawks' own version of that read-option. San Francisco, once second-year pro Collin Kaepernick got rolling, the 49ers' Pistol offense, not to be confused with the read-option, fluster all but the eventual Super Bowl champs, the traditional Baltimore Ravens.
The Giants will also welcome the inaugural season of new Philadelphia Eagles' head coach Chip Kelly's version of the read-option, the one he ran so well at the University of Oregon. The Giants, to confirm what you already know, need to adjust -- and fast. Not only will they face the Redskins and Eagles twice each this season, but will have to contend with Seattle and Carolina as well.

Giants have 24th-toughest schedule in 2013. Based on 2012 records, they have the 24th-most difficult schedule in 2013, according to the NFL. Around the NFC East, the Redskins are 18th, the Eagles 20th, and the Cowboys come in right behind the Giants at 25th.

As long as the Giants have Eli Manning at quarterback, they are Super Bowl contenders no matter how much the role players change. The reality is there is exactly one untouchable player on the Giants' roster and he has two Super Bowl MVP trophies. Everyone else on the team is expendable, no matter how much sentiment is involved.

GM Jerry Reese is rarely wrong. Steve Smith and Kevin Boss haven't done a thing and haven't stayed healthy. He traded away Jeremy Shockey. He did not re-sign Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward or Amani Toomer. He cut Shaun O'Hara, Rich Seubert and Kareem McKenzie. He didn't think Antonio Pierce's neck was sound enough to continue playing. He passed on bringing back Plaxico Burress. In the same purge that caught Petitgout, Reese also jettisoned Carlos Emmons and LaVar Arrington. Did any of these players prove Reese wrong?

Some may laud Jerry Reese for his decisiveness, but the real trick is to find replacements because right now, today, the Giants aren't any better than they were a few days ago. Giants GM Jerry Reese has a proven track record of cutting players on the tail end of their careers, such as former first-rounder Luke Petitgout. "He's basically getting rid of the guys before they expire, so to speak," Petitgout said.

Positional analysis: Offensive line - The outlook for this coming season is uncertain, with the entire left side entering free agency. LT Will Beatty might be the Giants' highest priority among their own free agents. LG Kevin Boothe's versatility is a plus. There's also uncertainty surrounding the right tackle position.

Justin Tuck shares his own experience being bullied as a child, and mentors a Brooklyn teen, Sebastieon, in the "NFL Characters Unite" documentary on USA Network. The Giants defensive end, and two-time Super Bowl champion, is one of four NFL players featured in the second documentary of its kind, part of USA Network's award-winning public service campaign to fight prejudice and discrimination..

NFL News
A blizzard in the region doesn't happen that often, but the NFL could hit the weather lottery next Feb. 2 when New York and New Jersey are slated to host the league's championship game.

Feb 8 Mathias Kiwanuka was surprised when he learned that his friends Ahmad Bradshaw, Chris Canty and Michael Boley were released and believes the Giants will miss their contributions both on and off the field.

This won't exactly send reverberations through an organization that has already pared three key starters off the roster but the Giants on Thursday got around to adding a player, re-signing tight end Bear Pascoe to a one-year contract for a base salary of $715,000.

General manager Jerry Reese has a reputation as a shrewd handler of the NFL draft. We are about to find out whether he deserves it. Reese's reputation as a master of the draft will be fortified by on-field results.

The Giants took the first step of trying to fill the gap left in the defensive middle after releasing Chris Canty by re-signing Shaun Rogers on Thursday.
They got a whole lot bigger when they re-signed Shaun Rogers, a 350-pound interior defensive lineman who missed the entire 2012 season with a blood clot in his leg.

Feb 7 The Giants cut running back Ahmad Bradshaw and defensive tackle Chris Canty Wednesday, after letting linebacker Michael Boley go the day before, and the wave of changes might not be done yet.
The release of the 30-year-old Canty saved $6.5 million in cap space, and that was too much for the cap-strapped Giants to pass up considering knee injuries limited the Bronx-born defensive tackle to just nine games last season.
When Chris Canty arrived at the Thurman Munson Awards, he didn't know the Giants had released veteran linebacker Michael Boley. "That's some tough news. Not only is he a good teammate, he's a good friend of mine," Canty said before being honored.

Ahmad Bradshaw spent six seasons with the Giants, playing a significant role on a pair of Super Bowl-winning teams and earning respect for his hard-running style. Bradshaw leaves the Giants sixth on their all-time rushing list (4,232 yards), having made some notable memories.
General manager Jerry Reese said, "Pound for pound, Bradshaw is one of the toughest football players that I've been around. Ahmad played football like Giants football should be played."

With Ahmad Bradshaw no longer part of the team, David Wilson, last year's first round draft pick, and Andre Brown, a restricted free agent who's expected to be tendered, will likely provide the one-two punch in the Giants running game.
Andre Brown rushed for 385 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns before suffering a fractured fibula vs. Green Bay on Nov. 25. Wilson, the Giants' first-round draft choice in 2012, rushed for 358 yards and four scores and also set a franchise record with 1,533 kickoff return yards.

General manager George Young loved Phil Simms, and did what he thought was the right thing, even if it turned out to be the wrong decision. It began the era of Dave Brown, Kent Graham and Danny Kanell, which didn't produce many memorable moments.

Former Giants
Michael Strahan - Warren Sapp might have enjoyed beating out Michael Strahan more than actually being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Feb 6 The overhaul of the Giants' 31st ranked defense began on Tuesday, when the Giants cut veteran linebacker Michael Boley. Boley, one of the Giants' prized free agents back in 2009 when he signed a five-year, $25 million contract, was released after four seasons in New York.
A starting outside linebacker on last year's Super Bowl winner, Boley played in all 16 games this season, making 11 starts, and finished fourth on the team with 84 tackles (61 solo), but he saw decreased playing time at the end of the season, which coach Tom Coughlin attributed to a "cumulative health thing."
Boley was released because of his cap number, but also the team appears ready to move on with young linebackers like Jacquian Williams and perhaps Spencer Paysinger will be in line for a bigger role as well. Have a look again at some candidates who could follow Boley.

Terrell Thomas has begun jogging outside a pool this week as he attempts his third comeback from an ACL knee injury. The Giants have a $6 million option on Thomas' contract in March, so they are expected to get out of that contract. Still, the Giants could re-sign Thomas to a new short-term, low-risk deal.

2013 personnel preview: Ahmad Bradshaw underwent surgery to replace a screw in his right foot and will be out another eight weeks. Besides that, he is uncertain about his future with the emergence of Brown and Wilson. Tom Coughlin, though, loves Bradshaw's toughness and the luxury of having three running backs.

Former Giants
George Martin will present Bill Parcells at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony. As a leader on the team, Martin didn't realize until years later how much Parcells relied upon him. That was validated when Parcells called him this past weekend after being voted into the Hall of Fame.

Feb 5 Super Bowl 2014: A look ahead at the road to MetLife Stadium for all 32 NFL teams. The NFC East is always tough - something the Giants found out after following their Super Bowl run by missing the playoffs in 2012. Still, the core is in place to make a run again next season. The situation surrounding DE Osi Umenyiora will keep things interesting as will the contract status of WR Victor Cruz, who will no doubt earn big bucks in 2013.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was one of the guests Roger Goodell had in his suite for Super Bowl XLVII. So when the power went out in the Superdome Sunday night, suspending play for 33 minutes, Goodell didn't have to look far to set the preventative wheels in motion with the organizers of next year's Super Bowl.

Feb 4 Giants punter Steve Weatherford adamantly denies claims made by Mitch Ross that he supplied Weatherford with hologram stickers known as "performance chips." Weatherford said he would like Ross to recant his statement and offer a public apology. Ross told reporters at the Super Bowl that Weatherford was one of his clients.

Gov. Chris Christie hopes 2014 Super Bowl will help 'turn the page' from Hurricane Sandy. "I think by next February, you'll see that New Jersey will have recovered a good amount from the storm, and it will be a good way to turn the page from being victims to being survivors and thrivers. And that's what we're going to be hoping to do by next February."

Justin Tuck said last week it would be a "black, gloom day for the NFL" if Michael Strahan wasn't elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Osi Umenyiora vowed he'd start tossing some furniture, too. Strahan, 41, seemed to take the snub in stride.

NFL News
In one of the strangest Super Bowls in memory, the Ravens dominated the first half, were badly outplayed in the second half, and yet managed to survive for a 34-31 victory, the second championship in franchise history.
Before game is decided, Superdome goes dark. It was not New Orleans's brightest moment. About 90 seconds into the second half of Sunday's Super Bowl, the lights on one half of the Superdome's roof suddenly went out. Internet connections in the press box were cut, and the scoreboards went dark.

Feb 3 The Giants will officially cede their title as Super Bowl champions on Sunday night, succeeded by the Ravens or 49ers. While the Giants have spent the past few weeks trying to figure out what went wrong this season, the Ravens and 49ers surged toward Super Bowl XLVII. And the Giants played a critical role in both of the teams' paths.

The Giants have decisions to make this offseason at running back, and central to those decisions is the physical condition of Ahmad Bradshaw, who apparently had more foot surgery this offseason.
Despite his ailing foot, as well as suffering neck and knee sprains, Bradshaw still recorded a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2012. He is a Tom Coughlin favorite but sounded somewhat uncertain about his Giants future.

Former Giants
Bill Parcells, the man who breathed life back into the Giants and led the franchise to its first two Super Bowl victories, will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bill Parcells in HOF - Reactions by President and CEO John Mara and Coach Tom Coughlin.
Michael Strahan will have to wait on the Hall of Fame. Strahan made the cut to the final 10, selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters Saturday in New Orleans but will not be part of the enshrinement weekend in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 3.

Feb 2 Victor Cruz has been one of the Giants' most productive players the past two seasons, but the team and the talented young receiver are still searching for common ground in contract negotiations.
But now, all bets are off. And on Friday, the Giants' Pro Bowl wideout refused to rule out the threat of a holdout if his already contentious contract talks continue to get ugly.
Despite Cruz's accomplishments, the Giants do not seem ready to answer the receiver's demands. Owner John Mara said that he wants Cruz back but won't break the bank for the wide out, calling his agent's demands way too high right now.
When asked if Cruz's asking price is unreasonable, Mara indicated that was the case. "Well, right now, but that's his agent," Mara said. "But that's what agents do, and we've got a lot of time to work something out, and hopefully we'll be able to come together."

Both Eli Manning and older brother Peyton have played in two Super Bowls, Eli winning two rings with the Giants and Peyton winning one with the Colts. The Manning Bowl seemed possible at points during this season, before the Giants flamed out and missed the playoffs.
Although the scrutiny would be enormous, Eli said he would welcome an all-Manning Super Bowl. "I never dread playing a game against Peyton," said Eli, who has faced his brother twice in regular-season games and will do so again in 2013 in MetLife Stadium.

NFL News
47 facts about Super Bowl XLVII - To commemorate Super Bowl XLVII, 47 facts and tidbits about Super Bowls, the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens, and, of course, the Giants.
NJ to propose day honoring NFL Films pioneer Steve Sabol - NFL Films is located in Mount Laurel and has grown over the decades to employ some 250 people and boast the world's largest sports film library.

Feb 1 Victor Cruz is patiently waiting to hear about his future with the Giants, and the young receiver hopes he knows where he ranks on the team's list.
The Giants are not eager to see Cruz hit free agency in March and Cruz wants something in place before that time as well. "I understand it's a negotiation, it has to go back and forth," he said.

Osi Umenyiora believes there's "a chance" he will return to the Giants next season, but if he doesn't it won't be just about the money. It'll be because he wants the one thing the Giants may not be able to give him. A starting job.
Umenyiora will be an unrestricted free agent when the 2013 portion of his contract voids after the Super Bowl. He also told the New York Post that the Jets "might be a good fit," though they run a 3-4 defensive scheme.

Tuck takes his role as a captain seriously and is always concerned about how to lead, when to be vocal and what buttons to push. "The next chapter for me is just saying I am going to go out and play," Tuck said. "And not worry about what people say and not even worry about the outcome. Let the outcome happen.
Tuck, who is sixth on the Giants' sack list with 49.5, credits Michael Strahan with giving him a jump start when he joined the Giants as a third-round draft choice in 2005. "Early in my career he really took me under his wing and showed me the ropes - not only on the field, but off," Tuck said.
Osi Umenyiora called Strahan "the greatest defensive end I've ever seen play, no question.The way he played year in and year out, longevity, 15-year career, winning the Super Bowl," Umenyiora said. "He's one of the greatest defensive players -- not just defensive ends -- to ever play."

Jan 31 Special Report - Sometime Saturday afternoon the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee discloses the 2013 class of inductees. It will be a huge surprise if former Giants' defensive end Michael Strahan is not one of the newest members, and a first-ballot inductee as well. This is his first year of eligibility - has it really been five years since he retired? - and like linebacker Lawrence Taylor before him, there is just no reason why he would be excluded. If elected as expected, Strahan will become the seventh who played only for the Giants during his career, the others being Rosey Brown, Harry Carson, Frank Gifford, Tom Landry, Tuffy Leemans and Taylor.

Indianapolis isn't exactly New Orleans, but each host city presents its own distractions during Super Bowl week. That's why a year ago the short-winded Eli Manning got up in front of his team before the Giants departed East Rutherford, laying out what to expect and how to prepare.

He has never, ever watched the game and yet he cannot get it out of his mind. The Giants took something from him that night five years ago, and Randy Moss spoke yesterday as if it remains a fresh wound. "I still think about it," Moss said of the heavily-favored Patriots getting beat 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.

Kyle Williams still has unpleasant memories from the NFC Championship Game played last January at Candlestick Park. That's when the young 49ers returner lost two punt returns, helping the Giants emerge victorious and earn a trip to Super Bowl XLVI. But Williams also has another reason: The Giants players' comments after the game that they were targeting him based on his concussion history.

Former Giants
Phil Simms understands 49ers QB Alex Smith's emotions heading into Super Bowl XLVII. Smith lost his job as the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback this season after missing a game with a concussion. Coach Jim Harbaugh decided to stay with Kaepernick despite Smith's 6-2-1 record this season and 19-5-1 mark under Harbaugh.
Jeff Hostetler can relate to the 49ers' Colin Kaepernick's as both backup QB's led their team to the Super Bowl. Colin Kaepernick will start his 10th NFL game Sunday in Super Bowl XLVII, which makes him a hardened veteran compared to Jeff Hostetler's experience entering the title game 22 years ago.

Jan 30 The Giants defense struggled this past season, especially when trying to stop the run. Considering that they will face the Redskins and Eagles a total of four times along with Russell Wilson and the Seahawks and Cam Newton and the Panthers again next season, the Giants have to get faster like the rest of the league does to combat prolific offenses.

Former Giants
Mario Manningham was a hero for the Giants last year, but now with the 49ers he's not interested in talking about it. For the second straight year, Manningham's team made it to the Super Bowl but the circumstances are quite different. He finished his first season with the 49ers on crutches.
Mario Manningham when asked if he ever watches the play, "Yeah, if the remote ain't around." But Mario, it might be the most significant play of your career. "I know, but I'm tired of talking about it. I don't want anybody talking about that. These men are about to go play a Super Bowl. I don't want to take anything away from them by saying anything about the catch last year. It's a new team, new year."

NFL News
Alex Smith, in the middle of his best NFL season, lost his starting job in November. He was sidelined with a concussion, then demoted in favor of the strong-armed dynamo Colin Kaepernick, creating a situation that, offensive lineman Alex Boone said, "could have gone sideways in a hurry." It did not. Defusing awkward and uncomfortable situations is a Smith specialty.
Thousands of media members and alleged media members descended on the Superdome to ask inane questions of about 250 players and coaches while fans paid $25 a head to sit and watch the spectacle. As usual, there were plenty of journalists dressed up in wacky costumes. USA Today spotted a superhero and a referee.
The subject that always follows Michael Oher followed him to media day at the Super Bowl on Tuesday. He answered another round of questions about "The Blind Side," the book turned movie based in large part on his life " I'm tired of the movie," Oher said. "I'm here to play football."

Jan 29 When Eli Manning wasn't throwing touchdowns to Victor Cruz during Sunday's Pro Bowl, Jason Pierre-Paul was intercepting passes intended for J.J. Watt. Yes, you read that correctly.

A year ago, the Giants were preparing to play in the Super Bowl and going through everything the Ravens and 49ers are experiencing this week. With it being Super Bowl week - there's five things the Giants need to do to get back to the big game next year. First a look at fortifying the offensive line.

NFL News
Another referee controversy is looming as the Super Bowl approaches. While the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens clearly earned their way to the Super Bowl, questions have been raised about whether the top referee this season will be joining them.

Jan 28 Victor Cruz's first Pro Bowl appearance was one to remember. The wide receiver had 10 receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown. The touchdown came off a pass from teammate Eli Manning, and Cruz celebrated with his trademark salsa dance.

Former Giants
Bill Parcells won two Super Bowls as head coach of the Giants - the second one with Coughlin and Patriots coach Bill Belichick as assistants - and remains the only coach in NFL history to take four franchises to the playoffs (New England, Dallas and the Jets).

NFL News
Super Bowl Countdown: Beyond the Har-Bowl, national buzz, headlines and quotes. It's the Har-Bowl! The Bro Bowl! The Super Baugh! Ok, ok. Enough already.

Jan 27 Giants must handle new wave of college-style offenses embedding in NFC East. the Giants may face college-style offenses upwards of four times in a 16-game season - depending on Griffin's health and availability next season, and the system Kelly installs with the Eagles. That's no small percentage.

By the time Archie Manning retired, Eli, who was born in 1981, was 4 and the family had moved into what would become known around New Orleans as "the Manning house."

Former Giants
Mario Manningham will be in New Orleans next week for Super Bowl XLVII with his new team, the San Francisco 49ers. But this time he will be watching the game from the stands.
Michael Strahan enjoying success off the gridiron. The Hall of Fame announcement is scheduled for Saturday, and Michael Strahan, with his 141-1/2 career sacks and more importantly, unparalleled run-stopping ability, belongs.

Stadium News
NFL rejects requests by NY Jets, NY Giants to keep rivals from using facilities during Super Bowl XLVIII As part of their bid for Super Bowl XLVIII, the Jets and Giants proposed the AFC team use the Giants facility and the NFC team use the Jets facility.

Jan 26 Coming back to the Giants - at least the desire to do so - has never been the issue for Cruz, who will represent Big Blue in the first Pro Bowl of his career Sunday in Hawaii. But the business of the NFL must also be weighed here, which is why Cruz and the Giants have yet to come to terms that will keep him under contract past the 2013 season.

John Mara believes "we certainly don't need to tear the whole thing down," nor does he believe his team's championship window is closing. Still, even Mara admitted that next season's Giants won't be the same team that finished 9-7 for the second consecutive season. "You always have to keep retooling your roster a little bit," Mara said.

The Giants announced the signing of three players to reserve/future contracts: tight end Jamie Childers, cornerback Buddy Jackson and kicker/punter Jake Rogers.

Former Giants
Steve Spagnuolo's available. The Eagles (at least officially) don't have a defensive coordinator yet. Naturally, at least some Eagles fans are intrigued about a possible reunion with the Jim Johnson protege. The question isn't whether he can coach. The question is whether he's a good fit with Chip Kelly and the Eagles.

Jan 25 The Giants won't be playing in Super Bowl XLVII , but their radio voice will be in the Superdome when the 49ers and Ravens meet. Bob Papa will do TV play-by-play on the international telecast beamed to 180 countries.

Jerry Reese said the Giants - who appear to be in the market for an inside linebacker - plan to include Te'o among their large batch of extensive player interviews at the combine.

For Antrel Rolle, watching the NFL postseason has been a lot like playing in the regular season. "What surprised me the most was that the teams that I expected to win, haven't been winning," Rolle said.

Former Giants
Brandon Jacobs should be headed to New Orleans next week for his second Super Bowl in two years. Instead, the running back is busy being a full-time dad because the San Francisco 49ers waived him to start the playoffs after suspending him before that. But Jacobs wouldn't change a thing .
Michael Strahan, if inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, will be the latest player to win a Super Bowl in his final game and move on to Canton. To close out his career, Strahan recorded three tackles, one sack and a pass deflection in the Giants' 17-14 victory over New England in Super Bowl XLII.

Stadium News
Gov. Chris Christie and the NFL announced a series of events to be held in New Jersey next year when the Super Bowl is hosted in the region.
Super Bowl XLVII is still a week away, but already New York City is gearing up for the title game that will be at MetLife Stadium a year from now.
According to one long-range weather forecast, New York could host the Brrrr-Bowl 13 months from now. Super Bowl XLVIII will feature "an intense storm, heavy rain, snow and strong winds."

Jan 24 The award nominations continue for members of the New York Giants as quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Victor Cruz have been nominated as the best "Dynamic Duo" in sports for the 2013 Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards.

The top five Giants injuries to monitor in the offseason. 1. WR Hakeem Nicks -- knee and foot. 2. RG Chris Snee -- hip. 3. RB Ahmad Bradshaw -- feet and ankles. 4. DT Chris Canty -- knee. 5. RB Andre Brown -- leg.

Jan 23 Justin Tuck has been watching tapes of his 2012 season, and he doesn't like what he's been seeing. Tuck said he's "super motivated" this offseason to have "a normal Justin Tuck year" in 2013.
Tuck said he is feeling a lot better since the season ended, having dealt with a minor shoulder injury in the team's final two games.

It wasn't easy for Antrel Rolle to adjust to life under Tom Coughlin when he signed with the Giants in 2010. Less than one season in, his frustrations were boiling over. It took a conversation with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to settle him down.

NFC East News
Eagles - Chip Kelly's offense will succeed in NFL, says former Oregon star.
Redskins - Rookie QB's ace the test.
Cowboys - Head coach Jason Garrett would no longer call the team's offensive plays.

NFL News
Sean Payton's season-long suspension for his role in the Saints' bounty program was lifted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, nearly two weeks earlier than expected. The decision allows Payton to attend the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday, where some of the top college players available for the NFL draft will be competing.

Jan 22 Giants linebackers coach Jim Herrmann pulled his name from consideration for the Eagles defensive coordinator job. The 52-year-old Herrmann has been with the Giants for the last four seasons.

NFL News
Harbaughs set to meet biggest fan: Each other. In seven combined seasons, John and Jim have never failed to get their teams into the postseason.

Jan 21 Three reasons the Giants will return to the playoffs next season. A Healthy Hakeem Nicks. A Dose of David Wilson. A Softer Schedule.

NFL News
Ravens - Outduel Patriots to set up clash of Harbaughs.
49ers - Something to smile about.

Jan 20 Following the Pro Bowl, Chris Snee will undergo hip surgery and after nine years with the Giants the wear-and-tear is starting to take a toll. He's missed only six games in his career, only one since his 2004 rookie year and is a fixture at right guard, starting all 138 regular season and 11 postseason games in which he's played.

As if the Giants weren't already kicking themselves enough for their season gone wrong, consider this the insult added to the injury. They're already stuck at home, watching the playoffs go on without them. Now they get to stare at an NFL championship games party that includes all the same guests from last year. All, that is, except for them.

Giants linebackers coach Jim Herrmann is interviewing for the Eagles defensive coordinator job, a person with knowledge of the Eagles' interest confirmed. That person requested anonymity because the team did not make its candidates public.

Stadium News
East Rutherford's battle to collect annual tax payments on the Giants' practice facility at the Meadowlands Sports Complex may be nearing a conclusion. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority recently offered a settlement of the longstanding dispute, Mayor James Cassella said Friday; he described the proposal as "fair."

Jan 19 Special Report - As many of you are aware, while the playoffs press ahead toward the Super Bowl, Giants' general manager Jerry Reese and his personnel staff are poring over contracts, potential offers and tag options because, of course, business goes on despite the absence of a post-season appearance.

The disappointment of last year's 20-17 loss to the Giants at rainy and windy Candlestick Park provided a lesson the 49ers expect will carry them through another NFC title game - Sunday's matchup with the Falcons inside the Georgia Dome.

Former Giants
Harry Carson was the defiant rock whose mere presence intimidated opponents and inspired the Giants alongside him, and it is no different, even now, at the end, for Ray Lewis. How much can Lewis will his Ravens to the Super Bowl, and how badly do the men in the foxhole with him want to get him back to one before he bids a tearful goodbye?

Jan 18 Chris Snee will play in the 2013 Pro Bowl despite a looming hip surgery. He just completed a season in which he endured his share of aches and pains and hip surgery is looming, but Chris Snee never seriously considered opting out of the Pro Bowl.

Antrel Rolle reflects on the best team moment of the season. "Best team moment of the year? To be honest with you, I think our best team moment of the year was the last week against Philadelphia. I think it had to be that game.

Spencer Paysinger played under new Eagles coach Chip Kelly at Oregon. Paysinger, coming off his second season in the NFL, was a three-year starter at Oregon, where Kelly left behind a 46-7 record in four years as the head coach.

Former Giants
Bill Parcells already should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If he isn't elected this time around, it will be a travesty. For the third time, the former Giants and Jets coach is a finalist for induction. He'll learn his fate Feb. 2, the day before the Super Bowl.

Jan 17 Eli Manning hasn't thrown a football in two weeks. But in over a week from now, Manning will be throwing passes in Hawaii. The Giants quarterback said he was surprised to be replacing Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers on the NFC squad after Rodgers pulled out on Tuesday.
"I think my wife [Abby] was probably the most excited," Manning said. "She was all over it. I didn't have much phone access and she was trying to text and call so that she could start planning and coordinating and I was kind of unavailable.
Manning will be joined by three of his teammates, including guard Chris Snee, receiver Victor Cruz and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. He'll also be joined by his older brother Peyton, the Denver Broncos quarterback, who'll be playing in the Pro Bowl for the AFC.

Jan 16 Terrell Thomas vows to return to football in 2013, after three surgeries to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. "I am returning to football in 2013, hopefully with the Giants but my (contract) is up this year," Thomas wrote.
The talented but injury-riddled cornerback is currently in limbo as far as what comes next. He is coming off his third reconstructive surgery to repair a torn right anterior cruciate ligament, making him a medical risk and no sure-thing to ever play again.
Only one player in NFL history is known to have returned to the field after tearing his ACL for a third time. Terrell Thomas plans to become the second. "Most likely and hopefully I will be re-signing with the Giants," Thomas wrote.

Eli Manning is heading to the Pro Bowl. The Giants quarterback will replace Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, who will not play due to injuries to "multiple lower extremities."
Eli's older brother, Peyton, was ousted from the playoffs when the Broncos lost in double-overtime to the Ravens and will play in the Pro Bowl for the AFC squad.

Ramses Barden will be a free agent this spring, and he gave teams a brief preview of what he can do as a starter in one game last season. He had nine receptions for 138 yards while filling in for Hakeem Nicks. The Giants have Nicks, Victor Cruz (a restricted free agent), Rueben Randle and Jerrel Jernigan at receiver. Like Barden, Domenik Hixon is one of the Giants unrestricted free agents.

The Giants announced they have signed wide receiver Kris Adams and cornerback Antonio Dennard to reserve/future contracts. Adams began the 2012 season with the Indianapolis Colts and had a pair of 13-yard receptions in their season opener vs. Chicago.

Former Giants
Dave Gettleman was introduced as the new general manager of the Panthers today, a moment he at times wasn't sure would ever come.

Jan 13 A frustrating season that ended with both the Giants and Jets sitting at home for the playoffs extended Saturday into a rare shutout on one of the NFL's most prestigious individual honors. For the first time since the 1996 season, nobody from either of the local teams was chosen for the Associated Press All-Pro first team.
Rookie David Wilson earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors at kick returner. Wilson -- who had 1,533 kickoff return yards, one touchdown and seven returns of 40-plus yards -- was the only Giant to be named to either the All-Pro first or second team as voted on by a national panel of 50 media members.

Jan 12 Jerry Reese says the Giants will look different next season. He doesn't intend to start a massive overhaul, but he will need to add a few new pieces. And the GM might have to say goodbye to some familiar old faces with the Giants projected to be $4.7 million over the cap in 2013.
It is going to cost to secure Victor Cruz, who probably is looking for a contract that will pay him in the high-rent neighborhood of $10 million per season. There's also got to be money set aside to re-sign their left tackle, Will Beatty, who is coming off a solid season at a position where young talent gets big bucks.

Eli Manning had a streak of three consecutive seasons with at least 4,000 yards, 27 touchdowns and 61 percent completion rate snapped in 2012. After having the best season of his career in 2011 with 4,933 yards and 29 touchdowns, Manning had 10 games in 2012 in which he threw for one touchdown or none at all.

Two key pieces of the Giants' own Super Bowl history, Michael Strahan and Bill Parcells, are among the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013. Strahan is one of four first-year eligible players this year, while Parcells is a finalist for the second time, after not being voted in last year.
To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent. The Selection Committee will meet to discuss and elect the Class of 2013. The results will be announced at 5:30 p.m. during a one-hour NFL Network special, live from the Super Bowl Media Center in New Orleans.

Jan 11 There were plenty of things that went wrong in the New York Giants' title defense in 2012. Hakeem Nicks finished third on the Giants with 53 receptions, notching 692 yards and three touchdowns. It was the first time in three seasons that Nicks did not have at least 76 receptions, 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in a season.

If there had to be just one, unfortunately for Giants fans, the wrong Manning made it to the postseason. In his first season in Denver, Peyton Manning has his Broncos coming off a first-round bye entering Saturday's divisional round against the Baltimore Ravens. It will mark the 11th consecutive season at least one Manning brother has made it to the playoffs.

Jan 10 The Giants just completed a season in which they scored 429 points, their second-highest total in the 88-year history of the franchise. They scored 35 more points than the 2011 team that won the Super Bowl. Read more: Numbers add up to tell tale of 2012 Giants' season.
The Giants scored precisely the same number of touchdowns in 2011 and 2012 -- 47. But in 2012 they kicked 33 field goals, compared to 19 the previous season.
Steve Weatherford punted 58 times in 2012, the Giants' lowest total ever in a 16-game season. That doesn't mean Weatherford didn't do some damage. His gross punting average of 47.5 yards (eighth in the NFL) was the highest single-season average by a Giants punter with at least 35 kicks.

In 2011, the Giants won three of their last four to get into the playoffs and they never lost again. But the chemistry, clutch play and motivation the Giants had during their Super Bowl run disappeared in 2012, when they were routed in two of their last three games to miss the playoffs.

How much can you fault head coach Tom Coughlin for the fact that the Giants missed the playoffs a season after winning the Super Bowl? This was not the Giants' finest hour, nor will it be remembered as Coughlin's best work.
Giants' offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has been feeling the wrath of spiteful fans for years. The numbers, though, say he really doesn't deserve all the hatred. Gilbride has had a lot of success running offenses over the years. Then look around the league at the coaching staffs in flux and remember, be careful what you wish for.

Dave Gettleman, a long-time personnel executive with the Giants, has been hired as the new general manager for the Panthers, the team announced. Gettleman served as the Giants' senior pro personnel analyst this past season, following 13 years as the director of pro personnel.
Gettleman has been a part of six Super Bowl teams, including three winners. He was with Buffalo in 1990 and 1991, Denver in 1997 and the Giants in 2000, 2007 and 2011. The Broncos and the 2007 and 2011 Giants both won the championship. Gettleman has been associated with 13 playoff teams in his NFL career.

Jan 9 Following his second season in the NFL, fullback Henry Hynoski has been named to the 2012 All-Fundamentals Team by USA Football, the sport's national governing body and official youth football development partner of the NFL and NFLPA.

Corey Webster has been considered the Giants' top cornerback for the past few years, but he struggled this season. His inconsistent play was just one of many reasons why the Giants were so up and down.

The Giants announced the signing of three players to reserve/future contracts: guards Bryant Browning and Chris DeGeare and defensive back David Caldwell.

NFC East News
Cowboys - Rob Ryan fired by Dallas Cowboys after two seasons. "I inherited a team that was 31st in the league in defense and made them better," Ryan said. "I (expletive) made them a hell of a lot better.
Redskins - Quarterback Robert Griffin III is expected to undergo surgery this week on his torn lateral collateral ligament and at that time doctors will determine how much damage has been done to his anterior cruciate ligament.
Eagles - Sticking with their plan for an exhaustive search to replace Andy Reid, the Eagles added Lovie Smith to their list of candidates. The Eagles will interview Smith for their coaching vacancy on Thursday, making him just the second former head coach to be considered for the job.

Jan 8 Marc Ross, the 39-year-old scouting director for the Giants, has emerged as a candidate for four of the seven vacant GM jobs around the league. On Friday, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan reported flew to New Jersey to interview him. On Saturday, San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos reportedly was in town to interview him as well. Ross is also a candidate for the vacant GM job with the Jets.

The Giants went from having 48 sacks in 2011 to 33 this past season. And of those 33 sacks, the Giants' big four pass rushers of Jason Pierre-Paul (6.5), Justin Tuck (4.0), Osi Umenyiora (6.0) and Mathias Kiwanuka (3.0) combined for 19.5 sacks. In 2011, Pierre-Paul had 16.5 sacks alone. So what happened?

Jan 6 Jerry Reese has some decisions to make with several of his own veteran players this offseason. One of them will involve Terrell Thomas. Reese said that the team will see if Thomas plans to make another comeback. And the GM raised the possibility of Thomas switching over to safety if he decides to try to return from a third ACL injury.

Former Giants
Kerry Collins - The Difference Between Ray Lewis And Kerry Collins.
Kerry Collins - Giants NFC Championship rewind: Kerry Collins throws record five TDs.

NFL News
2012 - NFL Playoff Results.

Jan 5 The Giants are grateful for Hakeem Nicks trying to gut it out through a painful knee injury and play as much as he did. But now that the Giants are out of the playoffs and have had some time to digest what went wrong, Jerry Reese wonders if the Giants might have been better off resting Nicks down the stretch earlier than they did.
Hakeem Nicks was never able to play at 100 percent strength this past season. And it's now clear that his injuries were a larger issue for the offense than the Giants let on. He adjusted to become more of a possession receiver, but the passing offense struggled without Nicks in top form, quarterback Eli Manning explaining that Nicks "just wasn't quite the same playmaker that we have become used to when he can play."

The Giants this week informed University at Albany athletic director Dr. Lee McElroy and the city's mayor, Jerry Jennings, that they will hold their 2013 training camp at the Timex Performance Center, their year-round headquarters here.
The Giants have trained at the University of Albany for 16 of the last 17 summers dating back to 1996, the most spent at any site in their 88-season history. They interrupted their streak in 2011 when the NFL lockout forced the team to scrap its plans to return to its annual summer home.

Jan 4 Special Report - So many questions, so many problems (real or imagined) to solve, so many cries for improvement, change and immediate decisions. It's a little too early for that, Giant fans, but a preliminary starting point might be the lineup the team put on the field in the final game, Dec. 30, at home against the dreadful Philadelphia Eagles.
The Giants must find replacements for Osi (who readily admits he's already gone), Boley, Webster, injured corner Terrell Thomas and reserve safety Kenny Phillips (originally a first-round pick in 2008). Webster had his time as a league-feared "shutdown corner" and these days he is merely a shell of that.

It takes more than one season to truly evaluate a draft class. But the day after the Giants' 2012 season prematurely ended, Giants GM Jerry Reese reviewed the contributions of this year's rookies. The top two picks, David Wilson and Rueben Randle, came on late in the season, showing promise for next year.

Stevie Brown is set to become a restricted free agent and, given the season he just gave the Giants, how can they move forward without re-signing him? The season is over and done with for the Giants, but the hits keep coming for Brown, who was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week, the first Giants safety to receive that honor twice in a season.

General manager Jerry Reese believes David Wilson has the ability to be a featured back in the NFL. "I don't think there's any question that he can be that," Reese said in an interview with WFAN Radio.
Jerry Reese will ask Michael Strahan to work with Jason Pierre-Paul. After his phenomenal breakout season, the third-year Giants defensive end had to get used to life as a marked man. His sack total dropped this season as he faced double and triple teams.

Tom Coughlin 'walking around like a crazy man' after missing playoffs. "I can't even describe how it hurts. I don't know what to do," Coughlin said on WFAN. "I'm walking around here like a crazy man. I am. I don't know what to do with myself. We shouldn't be doing this right now. The pain of it is almost indescribable."

Jan 3 Ahmad Bradshaw's commitment to the Giants can't be questioned. The running back played on a bruised bone in his foot for the majority of the season, and returned just two weeks after spraining his knee. But as Bradshaw cleaned out his locker on Monday, he appeared to have some uncertainty as to whether or not he would be back.

Victor Cruz was hopeful he and the Giants could get a long-term deal worked out before the season ended. The Giants' offseason started Sunday, and Cruz is still unsigned for 2013 and beyond, but he's confident it's only a matter of time.
Victor Cruz, who followed up his record-setting 2011 (1,536 receiving yards) with a Pro Bowl season in 2012 (86 catches, 1,092 yards, 10 touchdowns) is due to become a restricted free agent when the signing period opens on March 12.
After playing for the NFL minimums the past three years, Cruz won't come cheap, not after two outstanding seasons by a 26-year-old on the upside of his career. His asking price is expected to be somewhere between $8 million and $10 million per year. Cruz made $540,000 this season and the last two years he has been the greatest bargain in the league.

Eli Manning says he 'needed to play better'. He set career-highs of 510 yards passing against Tampa Bay and threw for five touchdowns in the season finale against Philadelphia. But overall, 2012 was a bit of a step back for Manning. Coming off his best season ever in 2011, Manning failed to throw for 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns for the first time since 2008.

Stevie Brown ended the season with a bang as he earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. The safety was NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 8 after he had two picks, a fumble recovery and six tackles against Dallas.

Antrel Rolle is trying to figure out what went wrong with the defense in 2012. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell last week said players have been in position to make plays but haven't made them. "We have to attack the game, and we just didn't do a great job of doing that on a consistent basis," Rolle said.

NFL News
Ray Lewis spent 17 seasons instilling fear in his opponents while serving as an inspirational leader for the Baltimore Ravens. Now he's poised and eager to become a full-time dad. Lewis announced today he will end his brilliant NFL career after the Ravens complete their 2013 playoff run.

Jan 2 Giants '13 free agent list. GM Jerry Reese believes the Giants still have a championship contending core but he also promises that the roster will look slightly different next season.

Why this veteran team faded is great mystery. Sure, the most agonizing losses for the Giants were 19-17 in Philadelphia and 17-16 in Washington, but there are easily-recognizable reasons why they came up short - tangible football failings.

There was never, ever any hint that the opposing running game (a bloated 129 yards per game) was under control. There was never, ever any sign that the secondary could clamp down, allowing a ridiculous 13 pass plays of 40 or more yards.
The Giants were better statistically than last season, when they finished last in rushing, but struggles in short-yardage and the inability to provide balance in key games down the stretch cost this team mightily.

---

---