The most excited player on the field— after New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes booted the winning field goal to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game— was the guy who held the ball— punter and holder Steve Weatherford.
After the 31-yard overtime kick defeated the Niners, 20-17, Weatherford could be seen running around the field trying to pull his helmet off his head and screaming what looks like, "I'm going to the f---ing Super Bowl!"
Weatherford had good reason to be happy because he had a lot to do with the victory.
His superb foot kept the 49ers out of good field position all night and his sure hands were fast enough to gather the ball for the winning kick after a bad snap from the center. He prevented what could have been another long-snap fiasco in Frisco.
The defensive battle had him matching punts with the Niners Andy Lee all game long and the Giants punter kept pinning the Niners deep in their own side of the field. Weatherford punted 12 times on the rain-soaked field inside Candlestick Park for a 46.4 average.
Even the winning score was set up on one Weatherford's punts after 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams was stripped of the ball by Giants special teamer Jacquian Williams into the arms of teammate Devin Thomas in 49ers territory.
A few running plays and the sudden-death kick later, the Giants were heading to Indianapolis for a rematch with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LXVI.
Maybe after the Giants next game, Weatherford will be yelling, "I'm going to Disney World." But without the expletives.
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Minggu, 22 Januari 2012
Niners Player Takes Out Own Teammate in Collision
A vicious collision between San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson and fellow defensive back Tarell Brown during the NFC Championship game against the New York Giants left Brown sprawled out in the middle of the field before he was assisted off the field.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw the ball in the direction of his wide-out Hakeem Nicks when the two 49ers players both dove towards the errant pass and met each other helmet-to-chest.
Goldson rolled over the prone Brown— who was lying on his back motionless on the ground.
A medical team surrounded Brown as Goldson nervously watched his teammate from the sidelines. Brown sat up after a few minutes, refused the services of a stretcher and was assisted off the field by two men. He later walked unassisted to the locker room for observation.
The Giants should consider themselves lucky because it looked like an easy INT if the two players didn't crash into each other.
The nasty smash-up occurred with a minute left in the 3rd quarter with the 49ers leading, 14-10, in the defensive tug-of-war.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw the ball in the direction of his wide-out Hakeem Nicks when the two 49ers players both dove towards the errant pass and met each other helmet-to-chest.
Goldson rolled over the prone Brown— who was lying on his back motionless on the ground.
A medical team surrounded Brown as Goldson nervously watched his teammate from the sidelines. Brown sat up after a few minutes, refused the services of a stretcher and was assisted off the field by two men. He later walked unassisted to the locker room for observation.
The Giants should consider themselves lucky because it looked like an easy INT if the two players didn't crash into each other.
The nasty smash-up occurred with a minute left in the 3rd quarter with the 49ers leading, 14-10, in the defensive tug-of-war.
Sabtu, 21 Januari 2012
Empire State Building Lit Up in 49ers Red and Gold Colors
New York Giants fans are blue in the face after noticing that the most recognizable landmark of the Manhattan skyline has been lit up in the San Francisco 49ers red and gold team colors just days before the two teams meet for the NFC Championship.
As the city darkened last night, people couldn't help but notice the symbol of New York awash in the California team's hues.
While the fans were screaming foul, there was a logical— if not a bit untimely— reason from keeping the 86-story building blue— the Chinese New Year.
The ESB was bathed in the red and gold in honor of the Chinese Lunar New Year which begins Monday— the day after the big game.
While that explanation didn't satisfy most fans, the building was already committed to the colors which represent the "Year of the Dragon."
Last week the ESB was bathed in glowing Big Blue until the most mythical symbol in Chinese culture took precedence.
And there's more bad news for Giants fans.
The dragon— and its colors— is considered to be the luckiest and most powerful symbol in the Chinese zodiac.
As the city darkened last night, people couldn't help but notice the symbol of New York awash in the California team's hues.
While the fans were screaming foul, there was a logical— if not a bit untimely— reason from keeping the 86-story building blue— the Chinese New Year.
The ESB was bathed in the red and gold in honor of the Chinese Lunar New Year which begins Monday— the day after the big game.
While that explanation didn't satisfy most fans, the building was already committed to the colors which represent the "Year of the Dragon."
Last week the ESB was bathed in glowing Big Blue until the most mythical symbol in Chinese culture took precedence.
And there's more bad news for Giants fans.
The dragon— and its colors— is considered to be the luckiest and most powerful symbol in the Chinese zodiac.
Kamis, 19 Januari 2012
Giants Fan's "You Down with J.P.P." Video Tribute
New York Giants defensive star Jason Pierre-Paul now has his own tribute video and one has to wonder why it took so long.
The video— sung by a Giants fan and dozens of background lip-synchers— combines Naughty by Nature's 1991 hit single "O.P.P." with the defensive end's nickname— "J.P.P."
The singer, Josh Hyman, titled his fun, home-made video song, "You Down with J.P.P." and the end result of the two songs go together like chocolate and peanut butter.
He even got an email from the Giants sack artist himself who said, "Hey, I dig it," according to Hyman.
Hyman remixed the original into an homage to the Giants and his favorite player before the team meets the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship game and is a big hit on YouTube.
The new version of the song opens with the lyrics "Blue army with harmony" and contains such lines as "Are you down with Big Blue D" to go with the chorus, "You Down with J.P.P.."
The Jackson Five sample is still in there too.
Mixed in with the homemade shots of Giants fans and cheerleaders are clips of J.P.P. sacking opponents and doing a celebration flip.
There is still a lot of debate surrounding what the original O.P.P. even stands for. Other People's Property or Other People's Privates are the consensus but, in this version, J.P.P. stands clearly for one thing— Jason Pierre-Paul and his sacks.
SEE COMPLETE VIDEO
The video— sung by a Giants fan and dozens of background lip-synchers— combines Naughty by Nature's 1991 hit single "O.P.P." with the defensive end's nickname— "J.P.P."
The singer, Josh Hyman, titled his fun, home-made video song, "You Down with J.P.P." and the end result of the two songs go together like chocolate and peanut butter.
He even got an email from the Giants sack artist himself who said, "Hey, I dig it," according to Hyman.
Hyman remixed the original into an homage to the Giants and his favorite player before the team meets the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship game and is a big hit on YouTube.
The new version of the song opens with the lyrics "Blue army with harmony" and contains such lines as "Are you down with Big Blue D" to go with the chorus, "You Down with J.P.P.."
The Jackson Five sample is still in there too.
Mixed in with the homemade shots of Giants fans and cheerleaders are clips of J.P.P. sacking opponents and doing a celebration flip.
There is still a lot of debate surrounding what the original O.P.P. even stands for. Other People's Property or Other People's Privates are the consensus but, in this version, J.P.P. stands clearly for one thing— Jason Pierre-Paul and his sacks.
SEE COMPLETE VIDEO
Tiki Barber Gets NFL Job... Sort Of
Tiki Barber is ready to talk about the New York Giants once again. The outspoken former Giants running back has signed with SportsNet New York to work on a special postgame show after Sunday's NFC Championship game.
The controversial Barber— who was dumped as a reporter by NBC in 2010 and was last seen trying to make an NFL comeback with no suitors at the beginning of the 2011 season— will be in a studio commenting on the Giants play.
"I am looking forward to providing my insights," Barber. "Hopefully, it will be after a Giants win."
Barber came under fire by Giants fans for criticizing his former teammates and head coach during and after his playing days with the franchise.
The former player called head coach Tom Coughlin's coaching style "demeaning" and said the coach was "always trying to vilify me."
What's ironic though, is that Barber's two of his most prominent targets— quarterback Eli Manning and Coughlin— are still on the team and one win away from making their second Super Bowl appearances.
Barber, the Giants all-time leading rusher, retired following the 2006 season— right before the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2008. Barber, himself, never even made it to the big game as a player.
Following his retirement, Barber joined NBC Sports as reporter on its "Football Night in America" show— where he criticized Manning's leadership skills— and worked as a reporter on the "Today" morning show and was maligned for his awkward, uninteresting journalistic style.
He was dumped by NBC in 2010 after he admitted to an affair with an intern while his wife was pregnant with twins.
While Barber has made amends with Manning— by calling the quarterback a leader who " always does something to help the team win"— don't expect a one-on-one with Coughlin.
Just this week, the head coach refused to meet face-to-face with Barber who was reaching out to bury the hatchet with his former coach.
I think Coughlin had more important things on his mind.
The thought of Barber's insights on a team still remembers his big grin and even bigger whines might make Giants fans throw up a little; but they can take solace in the fact that he is 3,000 miles away from the action.
The controversial Barber— who was dumped as a reporter by NBC in 2010 and was last seen trying to make an NFL comeback with no suitors at the beginning of the 2011 season— will be in a studio commenting on the Giants play.
"I am looking forward to providing my insights," Barber. "Hopefully, it will be after a Giants win."
Barber came under fire by Giants fans for criticizing his former teammates and head coach during and after his playing days with the franchise.
The former player called head coach Tom Coughlin's coaching style "demeaning" and said the coach was "always trying to vilify me."
What's ironic though, is that Barber's two of his most prominent targets— quarterback Eli Manning and Coughlin— are still on the team and one win away from making their second Super Bowl appearances.
Barber, the Giants all-time leading rusher, retired following the 2006 season— right before the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2008. Barber, himself, never even made it to the big game as a player.
Following his retirement, Barber joined NBC Sports as reporter on its "Football Night in America" show— where he criticized Manning's leadership skills— and worked as a reporter on the "Today" morning show and was maligned for his awkward, uninteresting journalistic style.
He was dumped by NBC in 2010 after he admitted to an affair with an intern while his wife was pregnant with twins.
While Barber has made amends with Manning— by calling the quarterback a leader who " always does something to help the team win"— don't expect a one-on-one with Coughlin.
Just this week, the head coach refused to meet face-to-face with Barber who was reaching out to bury the hatchet with his former coach.
I think Coughlin had more important things on his mind.
The thought of Barber's insights on a team still remembers his big grin and even bigger whines might make Giants fans throw up a little; but they can take solace in the fact that he is 3,000 miles away from the action.
Giants' Chris Canty Warns 49ers: Sunday's Game Will Be A "Bloodbath"
It sounds like New York Giants Chris Canty thinks the 49ers should have a few extra EMS units parked outside the stadium for this Sunday's NFC Championship game— just in case.
The defensive tackle is talking more like a street fighter than a football player and warned the 49ers that this weeks match-up will be more like an alley fight than a walk in Candlestick Park.
"Physical, physical, physical," he said when asked what to expect. "This is not going to be a cute football game. It's not going to be for the meek and mild. This is going to be a bloodbath."
The 49ers side— who pride themselves on playing a physical style of ball— didn't take the threat lying down and thinks we'll find out if the visiting team really bleeds Giants blue— lots of it.
"If that's the kind of game this is gonna turn out to be," the 49ers Hall of Fame cornerback Ronnie Lott told the New York Post. "It means it bodes well for the 49ers because they've been in those kind of battles all year long."
"I think they would say, 'Hey, bring it on! You're talking our language.' I don't think they will shy away from something like that," claims Lott.
Just toss in a few show tunes and we can call it West Coast Story.
"They don't try and make it a secret, and they want to beat you up," Canty said. "And we pride ourselves on being a physical football team. Something's got to give, and this football team is preparing itself to be able to put ourselves in a situation where we can be successful, and a big part of that is going to be our physicality."
The Giants players think they are now battle-tested road warriors
" Most championship teams got to fight through some sort of adversity— whether that's injuries, whether that's not playing your best early in the year," said Giants defensive end Justin Tuck. "Toughness is just fighting through those things."
Tuck was asked if the Giants are tough enough to back up the smack talk.
"We'll find out," he said. "I think we're pretty tough though. But we're going into the hostile environment of a team that's pretty tough too, so we'll see... we'll see how tough we are this week."
Not to be left out of all the pre-game trash talk, Jason Pierre-Paul was asked by a reporter if any team is tougher than the G-Men? Pierre-Paul's reply, "God is tougher than us."
Way to get the big guy on your side. Tim Tebow would be proud.
The Giants and 49ers met earlier in the season in San Francisco and New York lost, 27-20, in a game most Giants players still think they should have won.
"After the last time we played them, we walked away saying that's a very physical team," said Giants offensive lineman Chris Snee. "And the only way to beat them is to out-physical them."
Canty thinks the Giants can take it to the 49ers even on San Francisco's home turf.
"We got some experience in tough road ballgames, not always turning out the way we wanted them to, but we've had that experience nonetheless and we played in tight ballgames before," he said. " So having that experience definitely means a lot for us going into this football game. I think this football team has shown what it can do on the road, and we're looking forward to being able to demonstrate that again."
Then again, a lot of rain is being forecast leading up to Sunday, so this game might be remembered more as the Mud Bowl than the Blood Bowl.
Either way, players check your brass knuckles and switchblades at the gate and watch out for Officer Krupke.
The defensive tackle is talking more like a street fighter than a football player and warned the 49ers that this weeks match-up will be more like an alley fight than a walk in Candlestick Park.
"Physical, physical, physical," he said when asked what to expect. "This is not going to be a cute football game. It's not going to be for the meek and mild. This is going to be a bloodbath."
The 49ers side— who pride themselves on playing a physical style of ball— didn't take the threat lying down and thinks we'll find out if the visiting team really bleeds Giants blue— lots of it.
"If that's the kind of game this is gonna turn out to be," the 49ers Hall of Fame cornerback Ronnie Lott told the New York Post. "It means it bodes well for the 49ers because they've been in those kind of battles all year long."
"I think they would say, 'Hey, bring it on! You're talking our language.' I don't think they will shy away from something like that," claims Lott.
Just toss in a few show tunes and we can call it West Coast Story.
"They don't try and make it a secret, and they want to beat you up," Canty said. "And we pride ourselves on being a physical football team. Something's got to give, and this football team is preparing itself to be able to put ourselves in a situation where we can be successful, and a big part of that is going to be our physicality."
The Giants players think they are now battle-tested road warriors
" Most championship teams got to fight through some sort of adversity— whether that's injuries, whether that's not playing your best early in the year," said Giants defensive end Justin Tuck. "Toughness is just fighting through those things."
Tuck was asked if the Giants are tough enough to back up the smack talk.
"We'll find out," he said. "I think we're pretty tough though. But we're going into the hostile environment of a team that's pretty tough too, so we'll see... we'll see how tough we are this week."
Not to be left out of all the pre-game trash talk, Jason Pierre-Paul was asked by a reporter if any team is tougher than the G-Men? Pierre-Paul's reply, "God is tougher than us."
Way to get the big guy on your side. Tim Tebow would be proud.
The Giants and 49ers met earlier in the season in San Francisco and New York lost, 27-20, in a game most Giants players still think they should have won.
"After the last time we played them, we walked away saying that's a very physical team," said Giants offensive lineman Chris Snee. "And the only way to beat them is to out-physical them."
Canty thinks the Giants can take it to the 49ers even on San Francisco's home turf.
"We got some experience in tough road ballgames, not always turning out the way we wanted them to, but we've had that experience nonetheless and we played in tight ballgames before," he said. " So having that experience definitely means a lot for us going into this football game. I think this football team has shown what it can do on the road, and we're looking forward to being able to demonstrate that again."
Then again, a lot of rain is being forecast leading up to Sunday, so this game might be remembered more as the Mud Bowl than the Blood Bowl.
Either way, players check your brass knuckles and switchblades at the gate and watch out for Officer Krupke.
Rabu, 18 Januari 2012
Eli Manning Leaves Practice Early With "Illness"
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning left Wednesday's practice early because of symptoms that head coach Tom Coughlin called "a stomach bug, hopefully a 24-hour deal."
The Giants have weathered a battery of player's injuries and sicknesses all season but, as the team gets ready to face the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship game, Manning is the one player they can't do without.
Manning was put on the injury report for the first time this season after he missed the majority of today's practice.
The Giants QB started practice but couldn't finish and didn't hang around the locker room to talk.
The Giants officially listed Manning as limited due to "illness." Coughlin said he had a "stomach flu."
Manning may have left practice prematurely but few— if any—of his teammates expect him to miss Sunday's game.
"If there is one guy who can miss a practice Wednesday mentally, it's No. 10," said guard Chris Snee. He was probably here on Monday and Tuesday looking at game film."
"He's probably going to spend the rest of the day doing that," agreed tight end Jake Ballard.
Backup quarterback David Carr took over for Manning— who the Giants hope will return on Thursday.
The team noticed Manning looked a little queasy from the start of today's practice session.
"You could tell he was hurting bad," said Ballard. "He usually toughs things out like that. You could tell he was dragging, and you don't like seeing your Pro-Bowl quarterback throwing up or feeling like that. Hopefully, he'll be better tomorrow."
Also limited on Wednesday were defensive ends Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee), Justin Tuck (shoulder), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and linebacker Mark Herzlich (ankle).
Another concern is Ahmad Bradshaw who completely missed practice with a foot problem. The running back has been frequently sitting out practices while nursing the injury over the past few weeks.
While all the talk in the locker room centered around Manning, his teammates claimed that it will take more than a bug to keep their battle-tested leader out of this weekend's game.
"There's no way," said fullback Henry Hisnoski. "I think he'll play no matter what."
The Giants have weathered a battery of player's injuries and sicknesses all season but, as the team gets ready to face the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship game, Manning is the one player they can't do without.
Manning was put on the injury report for the first time this season after he missed the majority of today's practice.
The Giants QB started practice but couldn't finish and didn't hang around the locker room to talk.
The Giants officially listed Manning as limited due to "illness." Coughlin said he had a "stomach flu."
Manning may have left practice prematurely but few— if any—of his teammates expect him to miss Sunday's game.
"If there is one guy who can miss a practice Wednesday mentally, it's No. 10," said guard Chris Snee. He was probably here on Monday and Tuesday looking at game film."
"He's probably going to spend the rest of the day doing that," agreed tight end Jake Ballard.
Backup quarterback David Carr took over for Manning— who the Giants hope will return on Thursday.
The team noticed Manning looked a little queasy from the start of today's practice session.
"You could tell he was hurting bad," said Ballard. "He usually toughs things out like that. You could tell he was dragging, and you don't like seeing your Pro-Bowl quarterback throwing up or feeling like that. Hopefully, he'll be better tomorrow."
Also limited on Wednesday were defensive ends Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee), Justin Tuck (shoulder), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and linebacker Mark Herzlich (ankle).
Another concern is Ahmad Bradshaw who completely missed practice with a foot problem. The running back has been frequently sitting out practices while nursing the injury over the past few weeks.
While all the talk in the locker room centered around Manning, his teammates claimed that it will take more than a bug to keep their battle-tested leader out of this weekend's game.
"There's no way," said fullback Henry Hisnoski. "I think he'll play no matter what."
Vernon Davis Keeps Showing His Softer Side by Singing Adele's "Someone Like You"
Wow! Vernon Davis is really showing his softer side. The San Francisco 49ers tight end— who was last seen tearing up on the sidelines at Candlestick Park on Saturday— got in front of a microphone and belted out Adele's hit love song, "Someone Like You," for a local web-cam show.
The English singer-songwriter's weeper is a resignation to a lost love and contains the lyrics: "I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited" and "I am bound by surprise by your glory days."
Not exactly bulletin board material for the New York Giants— as they roll into San Francisico to meet the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday— but probably enough for a good laugh.
Davis was coaxed into belting out his off-key version of the song on "The Joe Show," an online comedy web show on 49ers.com.
Davis caught the last second TD pass that beat the New Orleans Saints, 36-32, last weekend and sent San Francisco into the championship game. After his game-winner, he had tears of joy running down his face as he was hugged by teammates.
The sensitive side of Davis is quite a reversal from the insubordinate, young player who was pulled in the midst of a game for taunting an opponent by head coach no-nonsense Mike Singletary only a few years ago.
When Davis sang Adele's words," I wish nothing but the best for you," you can bet they weren't for Giants defensive linemen, Justin Tuck or Jason Pierre-Paul, who hope Davis will be singing the blues on Monday's show.
The English singer-songwriter's weeper is a resignation to a lost love and contains the lyrics: "I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited" and "I am bound by surprise by your glory days."
Not exactly bulletin board material for the New York Giants— as they roll into San Francisico to meet the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday— but probably enough for a good laugh.
Davis was coaxed into belting out his off-key version of the song on "The Joe Show," an online comedy web show on 49ers.com.
Davis caught the last second TD pass that beat the New Orleans Saints, 36-32, last weekend and sent San Francisco into the championship game. After his game-winner, he had tears of joy running down his face as he was hugged by teammates.
The sensitive side of Davis is quite a reversal from the insubordinate, young player who was pulled in the midst of a game for taunting an opponent by head coach no-nonsense Mike Singletary only a few years ago.
When Davis sang Adele's words," I wish nothing but the best for you," you can bet they weren't for Giants defensive linemen, Justin Tuck or Jason Pierre-Paul, who hope Davis will be singing the blues on Monday's show.
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