Plaxico: Giants are 'always a great possibility'

Another off-season and another possible Plaxico Burress return to the New York Giants.  Haven't we gone through this routine before?

It's that time of year when Burress— the former Giants receiver who caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII, shot himself in the leg, spent 20 months in jail then signed with the New York Jets— tells everyone about the prospect of his return to the Giants.

He's at it once again.  Burress, in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, today with Rich Gannon and Adam Shein, said he wouldn't mind re-signing with the Giants next week when free-agency begins.


"It's always a great possibility," Burress told the hosts.

Too bad the optimistic wide-out has probably used up his three wishes with the Big Blue genie.

Last summer— after his release from prison for weapons charges— Burress spurned the Giants after a much-ballyhooed free-agent visit to the Timex performance Center in the Meadowlands for dinner with the owners and Tom Coughlin.

The Giants offered him an incentive-based contract which Burress turned down; then promptly grabbed a guaranteed deal with the Jets.

Afterwards,  he said he never wanted to play for the Giants and had nothing but distain for head coach Tom Coughlin.

Now it sounds like the 34-year-old Burress has changed his tune... again.  The Lomabrdi Trophy can do that to a person.

"Playing in Kevin Gilbride's system is definitely one of the best," said Burress.  "You see the production those guys are having at wide receiver position.  Victor Cruz obviously with the year he had, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham.  You just look at some of the plays that those guys are making out there on the edge.  And Eli [Manning] has really just become a man of his position, leading those guys the last few games of the season, the last five or six winning, and obviously the Super Bowl."

Is there a spot for Burress on the Giants?  Probably not.

The Giants are preparing themselves for the loss of free-agent Mario Manningham but still have Cruz, Hicks and a re-signed Domenic Hixon.  There are high hopes for Jerrel Jernigan and Ramses Barden and Burress didn't exactly do anything with the Jets.

The free-agent has bandied about the names of the Giants, Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles as teams he would like to join.

Burress told a Philadelphia radio station that "Nothing would make me happier" than playing for the  Eagles, but he said that last summer too.

The Giants got over the loss of Steve Smith to the Eagles without any complications.  Burress would be a no brainer.

"I haven't been able to talk to any teams as of yet obviously because it's not free-agency time," Burress said today.  "But I'm looking at all offers , I'm just looking for an opportunity to go into an offense, have fun, make some plays these last few years and the goal is always to win a championship."

Too bad he gave up that chance last season.

New York Giants to get "blue carpet" treatment at film screening

Super Bowl winners Eli Manning, Jason Pierre-Paul, Antrel Rolle, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks will be strutting down the "blue carpet' at tonight's screening of a new DVD that captures the New York Giants season leading up to their upset victory over the New England Patriots in  Super Bowl XLVI.

Some might even call the DVD a remake of the Giants Super Bowl XLII win because there are so many similarities between the two championship runs.

In both scenarios, the Giants' season seemed to be over before the underdog squad gets hot down the stretch and defies all odds by making the playoffs.  Combine that with freakish last minute catches and comeback wins— over the Patriots— in both Super Bowls and you can see how the two championship runs look alike.

The two-time Super Bowl MVP Manning and the other players will be getting front-row seats for tonight's event at the Regal Theater in Times Square for the V.I.P. showing of NFL Films and Vivendi Entertainment's "Super Bowl XLVI Champions: New York Giants" which will be released today.

According to a sneak peak by The New York Post, the DVD begins with clips of the Giants' stunning upset of the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII then fast-forwards to to reveal how "eerily similar" the first championship was to the second.

The game by game account of the season highlights themes like Manning's ascension to "elite" status, the emergence of Victor Cruz and the steady hand of head coach Tom Coughlin.

After the comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys, Coughlin exclaims to his jubilant players in the locker room, "Take the star down off the mountain, put the NYG on top."

There is a slo-mo replay of Cruz's game-breaking 99-yard TD catch and run against the New York Jets and, of course, Manningham's unbelievable catch in the big game.

If those scenes don't get tonight's crowd cheering, nothing will.

Sprinkle those season-turning plays in with poignant sideline shots like Brandon Jacobs, sitting next to Manning, saying, "You're a beast, man, I can't say that enough" and there won't be a dry eye in the house.

Especially Patriots fans who will give it two thumbs down.

Even Bill Belichick gets a supporting role.  The Pats' coach commands his defense to concentrate on Cruz and Nicks before Manning lands the perfect pass to Manningham on the winning drive.

The only problem with this movie is everyone knows the ending but— as the credits roll over shots of the Giants parading up Broadway with ticker-tape raining down— Big Blue fans will already be waiting for a third installment in the series.

Domenik Hixon wants to "repay" Giants for re-signing him

Domenik Hixon is one happy man tonight and vowed to "repay" the New York Giants for signing him to a new contract even after only playing four games— due to two ACL tears on his right knee— for the team over the past two seasons.

The speedy wide-out was in New York this morning to have his knee examined before meeting with Giants GM Jerry Reese at the team's facility in New Jersey.

He signed an undisclosed contract to return for a sixth season with the Giants.

Hixon couldn't contain his enthusiasm and tweeted,"I Just got done officially signing back with the Superbowl champs!!! #blessed #readytoplay."

How doubly refreshing for a pro athlete to know when he's been given an opportunity to play on a great team and for a pro franchise to show confidence in a player with a good work ethic and bad luck by giving him another shot.

"They gave me an opportunity when I got released from Denver (in 2007)," Hixon said in a press release after the signing.  "And then these past two years with knee injuries.  They stuck with me.  They could have cut me and let me be on my way and be done with me.  But they didn't do that.  They treated me the same and I really appreciate that."

Hixon is confident he'll be ready for the start of training camp and was told by the team physician Russ Warren he'll even be able to get some work in during the off-season workouts, OTAs and minicamp.

The 27-year old will follow the doctor's orders and believes he can come back strong after tearing his knee during a spectacular catch in only the second game of the 2011 season.

"We're just fine-tuning things now," said Hixon.  "My goal when I get back is to be at full speed and show the training staff and everyone else I'm physically ready to play and play it for years to come."

It sounds like Hixon will be battling it out with Ramses Barden and Jerrel Jernigan for the third spot in the receiving corps behind Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks if free-agent Mario Manningham leaves.

Manningham— one of 20 free-agents on the Giants— is trying to cash in on his impressive postseason and big fourth quarter Super Bowl catch.  He has already stated that he thinks the odds of him returning to the Meadowlands are slim.

On the other hand, the Giants will be keeping a player hungry to play and who downplays missing the bulk of two seasons as "interruptions."

"I know a lot of times in the NFL loyalty isn't that big," said Hixon.  "But in this situation, I really felt like I wanted to be here.  They helped me  but time and time again.  I wanted to stay here and repay that."

Classy guy and classy organization.

Packers Donald Driver joins "Dancing with the Stars"

Donald Driver might be known for his end zone dances after scoring a touchdown for the Green Bay Packers, but now it's his chance to show if he can pull the same moves on the dance floor.

Driver— the Packers all-time leading receiver— was one of 12 "celebrities" picked to appear on season 14 of "Dancing with the Stars."

Driver was matched up with New Zealand beauty Peta Murgatroyd to compete against the likes of 67-year-old Gladys Knight (minus the Pips), Little House's Melissa Gilbert, Urkel (Jaleel White) and a bunch of C-list stars.

Host Robin Roberts introduced the smiling Driver to the Los Angeles crowd by saying, "You...Super Bowl champion you."

Driver's pairing with the Murgatroyd (her second season on DWTS)  makes them a front-runner.  NFL stars have done pretty good on the show in the past and Martina Navratilova is the only other athlete competing this season.

A lot of people were hoping Victor Cruz might appear on the ABC show, but the New York Giants salsa dancing receiver made it clear— even with the urging of his mom—that he wouldn't appear on the show for at least for a couple of seasons.

No word on if Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will let Driver use his "Discount Double Check" moves.

Cruz and Manningham Rock the Grammys

It's been quite a week for Victor Cruz.  Seven nights ago, the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis and it's been a a dance in the park for him ever since.

In the following days, Cruz finalized a new multi-million dollar contract, was in a Broadway ticker-tape parade and cut the ribbon at Lincoln Center to open Fashion Week.

Tonight, the Giants star receiver was rubbing elbows with the the music industry's top recording stars at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.  He even handed out the award for "Best Rock Performance" alongside his teammate Mario Manningham.

During the whirlwind of a week, the only constant for Cruz at all of the events was re-enacting his famous touchdown salsa dance.

Tonight, Cruz was asked to do the Latin dance once again.

Cruz and Manningham were joined on the Grammys stage with NCIS star Paula Perrette who introduced the two players to cheers and shouts of "Cruuuz" from the audience.

Perrette then told Cruz, "This is a music show.  So you need to give us a little salsa."

Cruz obliged and managed a few steps before he was cut off by the Super Bowl hero Manningham.

"OK, OK," interrupted his fellow receiver.  "Save it for the field."

The award went to the Foo Fighters for their rousing rock song "Walk."

It seemed fitting because both players walked the walk on their way to the Lombardi trophy.

Cruz and Strahan salsa together at ceremony honoring NY Giants

This morning, an estimated 1 million fans lined the sidewalks of lower Broadway during a ticker tape parade honoring the New York Giants come-from-behind Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.

Afterwards, at the Key to the City ceremony on the steps of City Hall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Giants player Michael Strahan stood at a podium and honored all of the Giants players and staff by handing them each a ceremonial key to the city.

One of the highlights of the fete was when wide receiver and favorite target of Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, stepped to the front of the stage with the crowd's cheers of "Cruuuz" filling the air and performed some of his patented salsa dance moves with Strahan.

Cruz made the hip-shaking dance popular by doing it every time he scored a touchdown this season.

Strahan may not have had as much practice as Cruz has shaking his booty lately— he did have a sack dance years ago— but did hold his own alongside the smiling Cruz under the bright blue skies.

The confident Strahan— wearing a "GMEN" sweatshirt— actually nudged Cruz and coaxed him into dancing.

Something tells me that it won't be the last time we'll see someone grab Cruz to do the Latin dance in New York this winter.

Victor Cruz Teaches NYC Kids How To Salsa

New York Giants wide-out Victor Cruz showed some his post-touchdown salsa moves that he hopes to bust out at the Super bowl to a group of fans inside a Times Square sporting goods store.

Yesterday, the game-breaking Cruz showed dozens of children how to gyrate their hips just like he does after scoring a touchdown.

Cruz— and his famous touchdown dance called the "Silk City" salsa— has his own T-shirt with simple dance instructions printed on the back.

A representative of the sporting store chain said the new Victor Cruz T-shirt has become wildly popular is the fastest selling shirt ever.

The record-breaking receiver from Paterson, N.J. said he "never took salsa lessons or a class" and credits the Puerto Rican side of his family for showing him how to shake it.

"My grandmother showed me the step," said Cruz, "and I pay her homage every time I get in the end zone."

The speedy 25-year old debuted his dance on Sept. 25 after catching a 74-yard touchdown from Eli Manning in a 29-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cruz went on to catch eight more TD's, set a Giants single-season record of 1,536 yards receiving and become a huge fan favorite.

Everytime he catches a ball, cheers of "Cruuuuz!" ring out inside MetLife Stadium and— sometimes— even on the road.

"It started as a joke," he said,  "I wanted to do something for me and the team."

Stricter rules against over-celebrating in high school and college kept Cruz's moves limited to his living room before he could actually cut a rug in the pros.

"I knew I could not do it in high school," he said.  "[So] I started doing it in the NFL."

Cruz recently turned down a chance to appear on TV's "Dancing with the Stars" but left open the possibility of appearing down the road.

"My first career is doing pretty well," he joked.

For now Cruz is concentrating on the Feb. 5 game against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

"As a kid, you dream about it.  Watching Super Bowls and game-winning kicks," Cruz said.  "Just to be a part of it this year has been amazing."

If the Giants win the Lombardi Trophy, expect to see a lot of shaking hips under a ticker-tape shower.

Victor Cruz Turns Down Offer From "Dancing With The Stars"

Victor Cruz, the New York Giants salsa dancing wide receiver, told reporters after Friday's practice that he received an offer through his agent to be a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars" and turned it down.

It was only a matter of time before the hit television show— which turned NFL players Jerry Rice and Hines Ward into Fred Astaires— contacted the nimble-footed Cruz and invited him to strut his stuff.

People have been suggesting it for weeks.

The subject came up by accident at his locker.  When asked if he was offered anything "weird or crazy" by anyone that caused him to do a "double-take" since his new found celebrity, Cruz laughed.

"Funny you should ask," he said.  "I just got an official offer from "Dancing with the Stars" this past week.  I knew it was coming.  That was the only one that turned my head."

Cruz was a little ambiguous about appearing and said the show is "probably a no, definitely a no" in his future and he only wants to focus on football.

Asked if he thinks he would be any good, the wideout shook his head and not his hips.

"I got a little bit of rhythm," he said.  "But I don't know how good I'd be at a tango."

Cruz said he told his mom about the offer and she "laughed about it and said, 'You had to know it was coming.'"

DWTS fans shouldn't give up hope. When pressed, Cruz said he'd give the show a look.

"Maybe in a couple of years down the line," he said.

FULL INTERVIEW

Giants Victor Cruz Shows Knicks Crowd His Salsa Moves

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz has been wowing fans with his game breaking catches and touchdown celebrations all season long.  Cruz's salsa steps done to a Latin beat have become the hit of MetLife Stadium.

On Monday night, Cruz was court side at The New York Knicks-Toronto Raptors game at Madison Square Garden and showed New York what all the excitement is all about out in New Jersey.

When Cruz was introduced to the crowd, he stood up and did his thing to the amusement of Knicks fans and, at half time, showed MSG reporter Jill Martin how to shake it herself.

The salsa is intended to be done with a partner, but when a dancer breaks off to do a solo— like Cruz does with his signature TD moves— they call it "shines" because it is your moment to shine and show off.

Cruz has been shining a lot this season and maybe it will catch on with the Knicks (2-3) who dropped the game, 90-85, to the lowly Raptors.

The 25-year-old  Paterson, N.J. native— who is part Puerto Rican— was asked by Martin what are the chances he might appear on "Dancing With The Stars."

"Slim and none," Cruz laughed.

While Cruz's dance moves have become a sensation with Giants fans, some opposing players claim he has two left feet.

Cowboys wide receiver Laurent Robinson mocked Cruz by imitating the Giant player's caliente salsa moves after the Dallas player caught a TD pass in Sunday's do-or-die game.

But Cruz had the last dance after he caught a couple of key passes that sent the Giants into the playoffs while the Cowboys two-stepped their way back to Texas.

Coughlin Is "Optimistic Right Now" That Nicks and Manningham Will Play

The New York Giants passing game may have to Cruz alone this Sunday night if injuries to Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham keep two-thirds of their three-headed monster sidelined.

But not if Tom Coughlin's outlook is as rosy as his cheeks.

The head coach said he was "optimistic right now"  that both players could take the field in the do-or-die game against the Dallas Cowboys and join Eli Manning's latest favorite target Victor Cruz on the field.

Nicks—who re-injured his hamstring in the first quarter Saturday against the New York Jets—expects to be ready when the Giants meet the Cowboys for the NFC East title at MetLife Stadium.

The receiver sat out yesterday's practice but is feeling Coughlin's optimism.

"I don't see myself missing this game," said Nicks.

Giants fans shouldn't take that remark to heart— just yet.

"If I'm out there, I'd like to say I'd be myself, but you never know," he said.  "These things are tricky.  I'm gonna go ahead and claim I'll be myself out there.  I always got to think positive."

D'oh!  That's a big IF.

Manning will need all the help he can get in Sunday night's big game if Cruz is the only deep threat in his repertoire.

A wobbly Manningham returned to practice on Wednesday on a limited basis after resting his knee against the Jets.  He had been nagged by the swollen joint for weeks and spent most of his game time on the sidelines.

Nicks could be the key to unleashing Cruz once again if  Manning gets into a shootout with the Cowboys Tony Romo.

Cruz won't catch an opposing team by surprise any more.  After all, he leads the Giants with 76 receptions for a Giants season-high record 1,358 yards.  You can bet the Dallas D will be keying on the speedy wide-out.

As for Nicks (71 rec., 1116 yards, 6 TD's), who had only one catch for 20 yards while being blanketed by the Jets All-World DB Darrelle Revis, it sometimes comes down to a case of the dropsies.  He's dropped a couple of crucial passes over the past two games but said the weather was a factor.

"I can go a stretch where I won't drop a ball for five, six weeks," said Nicks.  "I don't normally have drop after drop after drop after drop.  It's normally... I go a whole season without drops, then I have a period where I might fit some in there, but that's me because I'm starting to lack concentration or something like that."

Concentration is one thing, injuries are another.

Asked about how far along the hamstring was Nicks said, " I notice it, I can't really dig like I want to right now."

He then put it in perspective.

"[I'm] close to 100 percent as I can get.  I don't think nobody's gonna be 100 percent playing football this time of year.  Something's gonna be hurting, but come game time, you know how to put all that stuff behind you."

How important are Nicks and Manningham in this game?

Nicks had eight catches for a season-high 163 yards and Manningham had a 47-yard TD in the Giants 37-34 win against Dallas on Dec. 11 at Cowboys Stadium.

"I ain't the type of guy that looks for no excuses," said Nicks.  "If I am out there, I've got to be ready to go."

Victor Cruz's 99-Yard TD Key To Giants Win Over Jets

Paterson, New Jersey's own Victor Cruz tied an NFL record by scoring on a 99 yard catch and run pass from Eli Manning giving the New York Giants a 10-7 half-time lead over the New York Jets in today's crucial game in the Meadowlands.  Playoff hopes and jobs hung in the balance.

After 28 minutes of uninspired Giants football Cruz's catch invigorated the team with 2:12 left in the first half.  It was a second wind which carried over into the following thirty minutes.

The un-drafted Cruz sucked the air out of a pumped up Jets home crowd inside MetLife Stadium with his spectacular score after the Jets just let the inefficient Giants hang around.

Cruz became the 13th player in NFL history to have a 99-yard catch, subsequently, making Manning the 13th player to throw one.  The speedy wide-out is have a Pro-Bowl season and makes the loss of Steve Smith a long lost memory.

The stunned crowd could only watch in awe as Cruz raced down the field— after slipping free of the Jets Antonio Cromartie at the 12-yard line and hopping over safety Eric Smith— and turned what looked like a simple 11-yard gain into an additional 88-yard sprint.

The Jets secondary wasn't talking smack after that play.

Manning hit his new favorite target earlier in the game to get down to the Jets three-yard line where the G-Men settled for a field goal.

Up until Cruz's catch and sprint, the Giants looked flat and gained 83 net yards on the previous 25 plays.

Meanwhile, the Jets Mark Sanchez-led offense was riddling the Giants defense for 185 yards but could only muster a lone TD in first half.

After the break, the Giants came out looking a little more inspired than the Jets and scored a touchdown with :13 left in the third quarter to make it 17-7.

Ahmad Bradshaw scored the TD on a 14-yard run after Brandon Jacobs went outside for 28 yards and Cruz made an unbelievable 36 yard catch.

Cruz's third catch gave him the Giants most receiving yards in a season and eclipsed Amani Toomer's team record.

Sanchez started the fourth quarter by making a foolish throw to mid-field which was picked off by the Giants Kenny Phillips and returned 31 yards to the Jets 13.

The Giants turned the goof into a field goal for a 20-7 lead.

Then the Giants defensive line turned up the pressure on Sanchez.

After Plaxico Burress nullified a TD catch after pushing off a Giants defender, Sanchez looked like he was  sacked and fumbled at the Giants 40-yard line but, after a Rex Ryan challenge, it was ruled an incomplete pass.

Just when the Jets looked like they were going to make a game of it, on third-and-two,  Sanchez didn't get the snap from his center Nick Mangold and the ball rolled into the end zone where the Giants Jacquian Williams pounced on it for a touchback.

Not to make it to easy on themselves—and with only their running game going anywhere—Manning immediately threw a pass which was tipped by Darrelle Revis into the arms of a Jets linebacker David Harris who ran it back to the Giants 10-yard line.

On first-and-goal from the one, Sanchez scored on a naked bootleg to bring the Jets within six, 20-14, with 7:17 remaining in the game.

Giants fans waited for the inevitable collapse but, like a Christmas miracle,  things actually swung the Giants way.

There was a safety on Sanchez and a late score by Ahmad Bradshaw.  The only piece of coal in the stocking was  D.J. Ware being pushed out-of-bounds and into the hip of his head coach Tom Coughlin.

The win keeps the Giants playoff hopes alive and Coughlin might have saved his job as well—at least until next week.

Destiny is now in the Giants own hands.

On New Year's Day, the Dallas Cowboys come to MetLife Stadium.  A Giants Do-or-Die victory would give them the NFC East title and an playoff spot.

Jenny Finch Shows Up at New York Giants Practice

The New York Giants came in contact with another bird for the fourth week in a row.  After beating the Eagles, Cardinals and losing to the Seahawks, former Olympic gold medalist Jenny Finch showed up at the team's practice facility and lent a little beauty to what is shaping up as an ugly Giants team.

The former softball pitcher showed up at the Giants Timex Performance Center yesterday as part of a cross-sponsor event prior to her running the ING NYC Marathon next month.

The 31 year-old Finch sported Brandon Jacobs' #27 jersey and chatted with players.

She did some placekicking with punter Steve Weatherford-- and even made a 20-yard field goal-- before she took some passes from TE's Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe.

Victor Cruz should take note-- Finch actually holds on to the ball.

Finch is running her first marathon after recently completing a half-marathon.  She said she is cramming in her training before the Nov. 6 race and the flame-throwing pitcher has set a modest goal.

"I'm going for around four [hours]," she said.

Finch looked pretty good running routes and catching the ball.  No word on if she was instructed how to 'flop' or 'give herself up.'

Giants Still Can't Find Cruz Control

Last week, New York Giants Victor Cruz "gave himself up" in a crucial play which led to a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Arizona Cardinals.  Yesterday, the wide-out gave the ball up during a last minute play-- which led to a Seattle Seahawks pick-six score in a crushing 36-25 loss in the Meadowlands.

The unheralded Cruz ultimately controlled the outcome of yesterday's game by making spectacular tipped catches and then knocking a ball into the hands of the opponents as well.

It was Victor Cruz Bobble-Hands Day at MetLife Stadium yesterday.

The undrafted Cruz seems to have a real knack for making the big play.

The Giants trailed, 29-25, when  Giants QB Eli Manning connected on two consecutive passes of 41 and 19 yards to Cruz which set up a first-and-goal from the Seattle five-yard line with 1:27 left.  A false start by Will Beatty pushed the Giants back to the 10.

On the next play, Manning threw the ball to Cruz, who was in the vicinity of four-- count 'em-- Seattle defenders.  Cruz fell down and tipped the ball off the hands of strong-safety Kam Chancelor who bounced it into the waiting arms of cornerback Brandon Browner who raced 94 yards to put the game out of reach.

Manning's ill-advised throw broke up what could have been the third straight fourth-quarter come-back for the Giants.

Cruz had an All-Pro day after catching six passes in last week's win in Arizona.  The Paterson, N.J. native finished up yesterday's game with eight catches for a career-high 161  yards including an incredible 68-yard bobble-and-twist TD catch in double coverage.

Manning threw for a career high 420 yards and three TD's and kept the Giants in the game but also committed four turnovers.  It looked like the Eli of old when the Giants got into the red-zone.

Head coach Tom Coughlin pinned the blame on himself but also sat Manning in the corner.

"The sloppiness of the game, the turnovers... you're not going to win football games when you're handing people the ball," said Coughlin.

About Manning's poor decisions in the red zone, the coach was more direct.

"You can't throw an interception right there," he said  "You just can't do it."

Granted, two of Manning's INT's were deflected by his receivers into the hands of Seahawks players.  A constant rally-killer that seems to have been the bane of Manning's last couple of seasons.

Cruz is playing beyond any one's expectations this season and, when combined with Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham, gives the Giants a real 1-2-3 punch.  If only Cruz could control the ball more deftly.  For every acrobatic play, there seems to be a dangerous bobble or a fumble.

"As soon as I went to grip it [the ball], I got hit.  It bobbled up in the air," said Cruz of the last minute pick-six.  "I knew it was all downhill from there, because there were two guys there and I knew one of them was going to pick it off."

Browner's game-buster has to take a lot of the wind out of the Giants sails.

With the Philadelphia Eagles losing and the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins idle, the G-Men had a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the NFC East and put some distance between them and their rivals.  Too bad they couldn't pull another fourth quarter Houdini act.

The Giants finally found out what it's like to be on the losing end of a come-from-behind win and doing it in grand style has to sting a little more.

Seattle came into the game averaging a measly 254 yards per game but shredded the Giants defense for 424 yards-- half of them with their second-string QB Charlie Whitehurst at the controls.

Ironically, it's that same Giants defense which kept them in the game.  They registered six sacks and three interceptions.

Maybe the Giants modest win streak was a desert mirage.  The defense hasn't really played overly well during the past three weeks and the offense doesn't seem to catch fire until the fourth quarter.

Overcoming the St. Louis Rams, the Arizona Cardinals and a suspect Eagles team in the fourth quarter is exciting but not awe-inspiring.  The anemic Seahawks were supposed to be lumped in with that downtrodden bunch during the softest stretch of the Giants schedule but made the Giants look sloppy on their home turf.

Next week, the Giants host the confident Buffalo Bills, who are beginning to look like the real thing and got four Michael Vick picks of their own.

Manning, who last week said he wanted to get off to fast starts and avoid any last-minute heroics, will probably be spending a lot of time this week adjusting his Cruz control.

Eli Manning Looking To Avoid Any More Late-Game Heroics Against Seahawks

The New York Giants return home tomorrow to play the Seattle Seahawks in a game that is loaded with all the signs which suggest overlooking the opposition.  The Giants (3-1) are coming off two thrilling come-from-behind victories on the road and a three game win streak but the Seahawks (3-1) have a rousing fourth quarter rally, in their most recent loss to the Atlanta Falcons, under their belt as well.

The Giants claim they are not overconfident playing the offensively-deficient Seahawks, but after being down by 20 points in the third quarter last week against the Falcons, the Seahawks switched to a hurry-up offense and reeled off 21 points in the final 25 minutes only to fall short, 30-28, in the loss.

We all know how the Giants handle the hurry-up and don't think the referees won't be looking for some more Giants' players flopping on the field to slow it down.  Hear that Deon Grant?

The Giants return to MetLife Stadium for a three game home stand after playing three of their first four games on the road.  It could be the easiest stretch of their schedule and  make-it-or-break-it time for the G-men.  Last week's two score comeback over the Arizona Cardinals has to make the homecoming even sweeter.

Over the next month, the Giants play the still-suspect Buffalo Bills and the Andrew-Luck Lottery front runners Miami Dolphins before the team heads into a sadistic nine-game stretch against top-tier teams and division rivals.

Oh yeah, there's a bye week thrown in there after the Buffalo game.  So for the next month, the Giants can get used to familiar surroundings and an accommodating schedule-maker.

The game at hand brings in a Seahawks team juiced up with a little momentum and Pete Carroll's hurry-up to frustrate the Giants D.  I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing the giddy-up offense going at a depleted Giants defense that will be without DE Justin Tuck for the second straight week.

The Seahawks don't match up well against the Giants as their last two losses to New York will attest.  The Giants pummeled the 'Hawks 41-7 last season and 44-6 in 2008, so that overconfidence buzz could be in the back of Giants player's minds.

But these birds don't like to leave the nest either.  Seattle has lost its last six road games and the last nine games played in the Eastern Time Zone.

As for the Giants offense, the loss of Brandon Jacobs (knee) means the running game will be in the sole hands of Ahmad Bradshaw and the concussed head of Mario Manningham has turned Victor Cruz into a starting receiver.  Manningham still has to overcome last week's perceived miscommunication with QB Eli Manning and get back into the swing of things.

Manning will go to his receivers early and often.  It sounds like he doesn't want to toy with any more late-game deficits. 

"You always want to get off to a fast start, but you also don't want to get frustrated if you don't.  And if you don't get off to a fast start, you still can't afford to make mistakes or turn the ball over," said Manning.  "We are doing a better job of [limiting turnovers], and  that's keeping us in games."

The NFC's second-ranked QB is slowly making the league forget about the other Manning, Peyton, and is brimming with confidence.  The new and improved Giants QB has not thrown an interception in 90 straight attempts.  He looks almost Tom Bradyish.

The Giants now attempt to shoot down the third bird-named team in-a-row and feather their own nest.

If Manning comes out firing-- because of the Giants depleted running game -- and the Seahawks give the hurry-up a little go-see, this game could turn into a shoot-out.

The Giants hope it turns into a turkey shoot-- or a Seahawk one.

Controversial Play Leads to Giants Comeback Win Over Cardinals, 31-27

Another New York Giants player took a dive but, this time, the controversial fall was considered legit and it set up a thrilling 31-27 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix on Sunday.

With just under three minutes left in the game and the Giants trailing 27-24, Victor Cruz caught a pass  at the Cardinals 35 yard-line, stumbled a few more yards to the turf at the 31 yard-line before he crawled a couple more yards.  Cruz jumped up and left the ball on the ground with out being touched by a defender.  Three Cardinals players pounced on the ball like it was a fumble, but possession was given back to the Giants after the referees ruled that "The player [Cruz] gave himself up" by going to the ground.

Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt threw a flag to challenge the call just before the Giants hurried to beat his toss.  The Giants hasty play didn't stop Whisenhunt's request, but the challenge was overruled by the officials and the Giants retained the ball.

On the next play, Giants QB Eli Manning threw the game-winning 29-yard TD to Hakeem Nicks with 2:39 remaining in the fourth quarter.

It was the second week in a row that the G-men came from behind in the fourth quarter to win and kept the team tied with the Washington Redskins with 3-1 records and first place in the NFC East.

The Giants offense looked flat for the first three quarters until they scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter after falling behind 20-10.  The final two TD's came 58 seconds apart.

The Giants defense chased Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb all over the field throughout the game but couldn't contain running back Beanie Wells who rushed for 138 yards.  Kolb was sacked four times.

Manning finished completing 27 of 40 passes for 321 yards and 2 TD's.  Nicks caught 10 of those throws for 162 yards.

The Giants return to the Meadowlands next week to face the visiting Seattle Seahawks.