By the time the N.Y. Giants took the field, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect after my experience with the Patriots. And as a result, I feel I had a better session with the G-Men. As much as Tom Brady was getting most of the attention for the Pats, Giants QB Eli Manning and DE Michael Strahan were pretty much split in their popularity for New York. Both of them appeared to handle the adoration very well. Michael seems to thrive on his popularity. And he’s usually joking and having fun, even when talking about what the Super Bowl means to him:

“If we win the game, I’m supposed to quit (laughs)? I’ve done everything personally that I feel like I can do — awards, honors — that sort of thing. The only thing I haven’t done is the ultimate thing, which is to win a Super Bowl.”

At the podiums/risers for the Giants were Antonio Pierce, Justin Tuck, Plaxico Burress, Tom Coughlin, Jeff Feagles, Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer, Shaun O’Hara and Osi Umenyiora. In special sections in the stands were offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Lawrence Tynes, chairman/executive VP/co-owner Steve Tisch, GM Jerry Reese, president/CEO/co-owner John Mara and Sam Madison.

For the BIGPLAY Radio NFL Podcast, I spoke with Sinorice Moss, Corey Webster, Kareem McKenzie, Ahmad Bradshaw, James Butler and Steve Smith. What I couldn’t believe was the attention kicker Lawrence Tynes was getting. He didn’t just have a small gathering around him. He was mobbed. In fact, for one full hour, I couldn’t even see him from the front. I had to go around behind the crowd to get a picture. So, I never got my questions in for LT. I also really wanted to talk to DB Aaron Ross, but I never actually saw him. I roamed almost constantly and never saw him once. Perhaps he was still feeling some ill effects from the flu he reportedly had.

I felt I had enough audio so with 10 minutes left, I just focused on taking pics. When time was up, the Giants headed to the field for their team photo and I climbed the stadium stairs to the parking lot for my 20-minute shuttle ride back downtown to the Convention Center. Before I exited, I turned around to look back at the inside of the stadium. I visualized five days into the future when this very place will be on the eyes of over 90 million people. Wow. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of from my perspective. I can only imagine how excited the players are.

(Note: I would later learn that I was captured on Giants center Shaun O’Hara’s personal video coverage for NFL Network. I’m listening to R.W. McQuarters as the cam passes by us. The whole thing was also saved on NFL.com. See if you can spot me for the two seconds I’m on.)

Photos by David Kindervater

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

SBXLII Media Day: N.Y. Giants

The N.Y. Giants lost two of their final three games to end their 2007 National Football League season. Naturally, that doesn’t seem like a very good way to head into the playoffs. But just like instant replay — upon further review, the G-Men actually found their groove during that time. Running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for a ridiculous 294 rushing yards in a 38-21 come-from-behind win at Buffalo (I was working that game). And QB Eli Manning came into his own the following week in a narrow loss to the (still) undefeated New England Patriots. He’s now playing the best football of his career as the Giants have beaten Tampa and Dallas to advance to the NFC Championship game against Green Bay.

Through the ups and downs, one thing has remained constant — the play of Eli’s favorite target, veteran WR Amani Toomer. The Giants can’t really explain their recent success or unheard of 10-1 road record. At least Amani Toomer can’t. Speaking with him on a national conference call, I discovered a player who isn’t trying to overanalyze the Giants’ fortunes. He’s just enjoying the ride.

DAVID: Typically, a team going into Lambeau against Brett Favre — in that environment — is going to be at a disadvantage. But with your road record and being on a roll like you are right now, do you even look at this game as being an underdog?

AMANI: It doesn’t matter what everybody else thinks. The only thing that matters is what happens when we get out there and play. That’s the only thing that matters. People can say what they want to say, but the last two weeks, that goes to show that the experts don’t always know what they’re talking about.

DAVID: As a veteran player, do you put more pressure on yourself to make plays in this situation, in this type of game?

AMANI: You can’t worry about trying to make plays and all that stuff. You’ve just got to go out there and play. The only thing you can really control is your preparation and your effort, and everything else has kind of got to be “in the cards.” All you can do is control what you’re able to control.

DAVID: As a veteran, Amani, you know better than anyone how to savor the moment of being this deep in the playoffs because it certainly isn’t guaranteed every season.

AMANI: It’s definitely special. I’ve been in the league for like 12 years, and I’ve been in this situation twice. It’s one of those things that you never really can take for granted because it might be everybody’s last time doing this no matter what year it is for you. If I heard anybody in the locker room that thought, “Oh, this is going to happen every year,” I would tell them that there’s only one team a year that goes this far in our conference and the percentages of getting back here are pretty small. So they better take this like I take it. You can’t take it for granted.

DAVID: Is there anything in particular that you see as an explanation why the Giants are playing so well on the road? Your road record is incredible.

AMANI: Yeah, I know. I have no idea. It’s just one of those things that happens. I figure, just be glad that it happens and try not to analyze it and figure out the reasons why. I think back to when we hadn’t won a game and we were really trying to find ourselves and find our identity. I think now we have an identity as a resilient group that will fight until the end. And I think, from play calling on down to the players out there on the field, I think we’ve found a rhythm and we’re on a wave and we’re just going to ride it instead of wondering and analyzing and all that stuff. We’ve just got to keep going and doing what we’re doing.

DAVID: That resiliency you speak of. Has that developed all season?

AMANI: You know what, a lot of the stuff that we talk about when we talk about football is really indescribable. It’s just a feeling you get, and it’s hard to put into words and not sound corny, you know what I mean?

Some things are better left unsaid. Maybe just knowing they’re playing well and understanding what it takes to win is all the Giants need. So far, you can’t argue with the results. This was the third of four Conference Championship interviews. Check out Tom Brady (Patriots) and Ryan Grant (Packers). And look for LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers) to follow before Sunday’s games.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Conference Championship Interview Series: New York Giants WR Amani Toomer

Buffalo Bills TE Kevin Everett is just one of many fantastic stories of courage and achievement that make up the 2007 class of The Ed Block Courage Awards.

It’s well-known that Kevin suffered a spinal cord injury covering a kickoff in the Bills’ season opener against the Broncos. The injury was life-threatening, but the outstanding work of the Bills’ training staff and team doctors saved his life. Kevin was told that he may never walk again. Through hard work and determination not only was he able to walk again, he was able to visit his teammates in Buffalo before their last home game of the year against the New York Giants.

Kevin is just one of many great stories of courage in this year’s class. Baltimore Ravens CB Samari Rolle gathered the courage to return to the football field after being diagnosed with epilepsy. Detroit Lions RB Kevin Jones was honored by his teammates for returning to action after suffering a season ending foot injury. When Kevin spoke at the Lions Courage House dinner, he told the crowd of a different hero. His stepfather, who had the courage to take-in Kevin, his brothers and sisters, and his mom when he was young. And how his real father was shot and killed when he was eight years old.

This year’s class also boasts three playoff quarterbacks. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Tampa Bay’s Jeff Garcia, and Seattle Seahawks back-up QB Seneca Wallace will all represent their teams. Listed below are all the 2007 winners:

• Arizona Cardinals, Bertrand Berry
• Atlanta Falcons, Alge Crumpler
• Baltimore Ravens, Samari Rolle
• Buffalo Bills, Kevin Everett
• Carolina Panthers, Mike Rucker
• Chicago Bears, Tommie Harris
• Cincinnati Bengals, Reggie Kelly
• Cleveland Browns, Gary Baxter
• Dallas Cowboys, Jay Ratliff
• Denver Broncos, John Engleberger
• Detroit Lions, Kevin Jones
• Green Bay Packers, Chris Francies
• Houston Texans, Anthony Weaver
• Indianapolis Colts, Ryan Lilja
• Jacksonville Jaguars, Greg Jones
• Kansas City Chiefs, Eddie Kennison
• Miami Dolphins, Andre Goodman
• Minnesota Vikings, Chad Greenway
• New England Patriots, Steve Neal
• New Orleans Saints, Roman Harper
• New York Giants, Amani Toomer
• New York Jets, Laveranues Coles
• Oakland Raiders, Justin Fargas
• Philadelphia Eagles, Montae Reagor
• Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger
• San Diego Chargers, Darren Sproles
• San Francisco 49ers, Eric Heitmann
• Seattle Seahawks, Seneca Wallace
• St. Louis Rams, Dane Looker
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jeff Garcia
• Tennessee Titans, David Thornton
• Washington Redskins, Marcus Washington

I’ll be posting more on these stories here at EMQB and talking with some of the players for the BPR NFL Podcast leading up to the award ceremony March 11. In the meantime, check out my interview with Cleveland Browns DB Gary Baxter.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Kevin Everett Highlights Courage Awards