Comments on: Arguments Against Pessimism http://www.nygmen.com/2007/08/30/arguments-against-pessimism/ A one-stop resource for New York Giants coverage, insight, and analysis. Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:42:08 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Craig http://www.nygmen.com/2007/08/30/arguments-against-pessimism/comment-page-1/#comment-8116 Craig Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:31:37 +0000 http://www.nygmen.com/?p=195#comment-8116 Gregg Easterbrook on ESPN had this to say about the Petitgout/Reese situation: As for bickering, the Giants have picked up where they left off, with Michael Strahan pulling a me-me-me while new general manager Jerry Reese has weirdly started taking pointless potshots at former players. The Giants can thank the football gods they don't play Tampa this season, after Reese publicly ridiculed former Jersey/A left tackle Luke Petitgout. What did Petitgout do, steal a pie that was cooling on Reese's windowsill? Not only did Reese go out of his way to insult a former player -- unprofessional on the part of the Giants G.M. -- he further declared the left tackle position "so overrated." Um, in what reality? Reese also dissed Petitgout on the grounds that he is "not a star." That's true, but football is the quintessential team game. Ninety percent of football value is created by players who are not stars. Anyway there's a lot more here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrookpreview/070828&sportCat=nfl Gregg Easterbrook on ESPN had this to say about the Petitgout/Reese situation:

As for bickering, the Giants have picked up where they left off, with Michael Strahan pulling a me-me-me while new general manager Jerry Reese has weirdly started taking pointless potshots at former players. The Giants can thank the football gods they don’t play Tampa this season, after Reese publicly ridiculed former Jersey/A left tackle Luke Petitgout. What did Petitgout do, steal a pie that was cooling on Reese’s windowsill? Not only did Reese go out of his way to insult a former player — unprofessional on the part of the Giants G.M. — he further declared the left tackle position “so overrated.” Um, in what reality? Reese also dissed Petitgout on the grounds that he is “not a star.” That’s true, but football is the quintessential team game. Ninety percent of football value is created by players who are not stars.

Anyway there’s a lot more here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrookpreview/070828&sportCat=nfl

]]> By: David http://www.nygmen.com/2007/08/30/arguments-against-pessimism/comment-page-1/#comment-8066 David Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:49:20 +0000 http://www.nygmen.com/?p=195#comment-8066 I completely agree with everything said in this entire article. As a Giants fan I often have to defend them. Honestly, I think they are capable of being a playoff team. A couple things to add. 1) The schedule is even easier than you point out. They also have the benefit of playing one of their road games in the neutral site of London against the lowly Dolphins. The crowd is supposed to be very pro-Giant. This essentially gives New York 9 home games. Also three of their road games are against Buffalo, Detroit and Atlanta. All very winnable. 2) Pettigout was awful and overrated. You are absolutely correct. 3) Even without Tiki, having Jacobs, Eli, Plaxico, Toomer, Smith, Moss and Shockey gives the Giants one of the most talented offenses in the NFC. 4) People seem to forget that a year ago today the Giants were projected to have one of the best defenses in the NFC. The secondary is not good, but the front 7 is even improved over last season. Replacing injury prone Arrington and Emmons with Kiwinuaka and Mitchell will only only make this defense better. The bottom line is the Giants had a freakish amount of injuries last year that led to their downfall, and one of their main goals was to eliminate such injury prone players. The Giants should be closer to 10 wins than the 7 that many project. I completely agree with everything said in this entire article. As a Giants fan I often have to defend them. Honestly, I think they are capable of being a playoff team. A couple things to add.

1) The schedule is even easier than you point out. They also have the benefit of playing one of their road games in the neutral site of London against the lowly Dolphins. The crowd is supposed to be very pro-Giant. This essentially gives New York 9 home games. Also three of their road games are against Buffalo, Detroit and Atlanta. All very winnable.

2) Pettigout was awful and overrated. You are absolutely correct.

3) Even without Tiki, having Jacobs, Eli, Plaxico, Toomer, Smith, Moss and Shockey gives the Giants one of the most talented offenses in the NFC.

4) People seem to forget that a year ago today the Giants were projected to have one of the best defenses in the NFC. The secondary is not good, but the front 7 is even improved over last season. Replacing injury prone Arrington and Emmons with Kiwinuaka and Mitchell will only only make this defense better.

The bottom line is the Giants had a freakish amount of injuries last year that led to their downfall, and one of their main goals was to eliminate such injury prone players. The Giants should be closer to 10 wins than the 7 that many project.

]]>