Giants announce 2018 training camp schedule

I'm marking my calendar!

From Giants.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The New York Giants have announced the schedule for their 2018 training camp, which will be presented by Toyota. The camp will feature 9 practice sessions open to the public at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, which is located on the MetLife Sports Complex. The first practice session will take place on Thursday, July 26 at 2:45 p.m.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Location: All practices will be held at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

Admission: All practice sessions will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis throughout training camp (July 26-Aug. 7). Limited seating is provided alongside the practice fields. There is no admission charge for watching training camp practices. Gates open one hour before each practice session begins.

Fan Guidelines: All fans in attendance are expected to adhere to the Fan code of conduct that can be found at Giants.com/fanguide. Please Note: The training camp practice sessions are an alcohol-free and family friendly experience. This includes all activities both inside and outside the Training Camp area. All fans attending practice will be subject to security screening before entering the seating area.

Fan Parking: Parking is free and located in Lot K on the grounds of the MetLife Sports Complex. Lot K will open up for parking two hours prior to the start of practice. The parking lot will close one hour following the conclusion of practice.

Fan Amenities: Restroom facilities, concession stands, cooling tents, and a free kids' activity area will be available.

Autographs: Select Giants legends will sign autographs during each practice for all fans. A listing of those Giants legends and the dates they will sign will be released on Giants.com. Each day after practice, a rotating group of current Giants players will sign autographs for the first 400 fans age 12 and under. The autograph opportunity will take place behind the Kids’ Zone area. All kids who are interested in the opportunity are encouraged to visit the sign-up table with a guardian immediately upon arriving at the practice so that they can receive a wristband. The sign-up table will be located immediately in front of the kids’ autograph area, and all wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Once wristbanded, they can enjoy the rest of practice and are encouraged to return 30 minutes prior to the end of practice to be allowed into the autograph area. Kids must have a wristband to be permitted into the autograph area.

Kids’ Zone: Families will love the Big Blue Kids’ Zone at camp, with games, face painting, and inflatables for kids of all ages. The first 200 kids who visit the Big Blue Kids’ Zone at every practice will also receive a special gift. Families can visit the Big Blue Kids’ Zone when the gates open through the end of practice.

Inclement Weather Policy: In the event of inclement weather (including rain, wind, thunderstorms or extreme heat), practices will be moved indoors and be closed to the public. Please check Giants.com prior to every practice for up-to-the-minute changes in the daily practice schedule.

Training Camp Schedule Open to the Public*

Thursday, July 26: 2:45 p.m. – Practice
Friday, July 27: 2:45 p.m. – Practice
Saturday, July 28: 2:45 p.m. – Practice

Sunday, July 29: 2:45 p.m. – Practice
Monday, July 30: 2:45 p.m. – Practice
Wednesday, August 1: 2:45 p.m. – Practice
Thursday, August 2: 10:30 a.m. – Practice
Friday, August 3: 10:30 a.m. – Practice

Tuesday, August 7: 10:30 a.m. – Practice (End of public training camp practices)

*Schedule subject to change. For the most up-to-date information on training camp, visit Giants.com or call the Training Camp Hotline at 201.935.8111 ext. 1070

New York Giants' 2017 Training Camp Open Practice Schedule

The NY Giants head to training camp this week. If you'd like to attend one of their open practices this year, below is the schedule and further information to know before you go.  I've taken my son and father to Giants camp several times in the past. It's a great way to spend a few hours watching and talking about our favorite football team and the upcoming season.

From Giants.com:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The New York Giants announced the schedule for their 2017 training camp, which will be presented by Toyota. The camp will feature 11 practice sessions open to the public at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, which is located on the MetLife Sports Complex. The first practice session will take place on Friday, July 28 at 11:40 a.m.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR FANS VISITING TRAINING CAMP:

Admission: There is no admission charge for watching training camp workouts. All practices will be held at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center

Fan Guidelines: Practice sessions will be open to the public throughout training camp (July 28-Aug. 14). Limited seating is provided alongside the practice fields. Restroom facilities, concession stands and a free kids' activity area will be available.

Fan Parking: Parking is free and is located in Lot K on the grounds of the MetLife Sports Complex. The lot will open to the public one hour before the scheduled start time of practice and the gates will open 30 minutes before practice begins. The parking lot will close one hour following the conclusion of practice. All fans attending practice will be subject to security screening before entering the seating area.

Autographs: Select Giants legends will sign autographs during practice each day for all fans. A listing of those Giants legends and the dates they will sign will be released on Giants.com.

Each day after practice, a rotating group of current Giants players will sign autographs for the first 400 fans age 12 and under. The autograph opportunity will take place behind the Kids’ Zone area. All kids who are interested in the opportunity are encouraged to visit the sign-up table with a guardian immediately upon arriving at the practice so that they can receive a wristband. The sign-up table will be located immediately in front of the kids’ autograph area, and all wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Once wristbanded, they can enjoy the rest of practice and are encouraged to return 30 minutes prior to the end of practice to be allowed into the autograph area. Kids must have a wristband to be permitted into the autograph area.

Kids’ Zone: Families will love the Big Blue Kids’ Zone at camp, with games, face painting, and inflatables for kids of all ages. The first 200 kids who visit the Big Blue Kids’ Zone at every practice will also receive a special gift. Families can visit the Big Blue Kids’ Zone when the gates open through the end of practice.

Rain Policy: In the event of inclement weather (including rain, wind, thunderstorms or extreme heat), practices will be moved indoors and be closed to the public. Please check Giants.com prior to every practice for up-to-the-minute changes in the daily practice schedule.

NFL Wild Card Weekend Playoffs: Who Will Win?

The NFL playoffs are upon us! If you're a fan of the NFL, this is what you've been waiting for. The final 12 teams left standing, slugging it out until there are just 2 teams left standing. They will meet on February 5th, on a field in Houston for the title of  Super Bowl LI Champion!

This weekend is the Wild Card round of playoff games for 8 NFL teams and Yahoo Sports attempts to answer the question, Who Will Win?

Below are the 4 games that will be played over the course Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, let's see how well Yahoo's experts did figuring out the winners.

Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders



Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions



Miami Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers



New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers

Giants announce 2016 Training Camp Schedule

From Giants.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The New York Giants today announced the schedule for their 2016 training camp, which will be presented by Toyota. The camp will feature 11 practice sessions open to the public at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, which is located on the MetLife Sports Complex.

The first practice session will take place on Friday, July 29 at 10:40 a.m.

Admission: There is no admission charge for watching training camp workouts. All practices will be held at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center

Fan Guidelines: Practice sessions will be open to the public throughout training camp (July 29-Aug. 14). Limited seating is provided alongside the practice fields. Restroom facilities, concession stands and a free kids' activity area will be available.

Fan Parking: Parking is free and is located in Lot K on the grounds of the MetLife Sports Complex. The lot will open to the public one hour before the scheduled start time of practice and the gates will open 30 minutes before practice begins. The parking lot will close one hour following the conclusion of practice. All fans attending practice will be subject to security screening before entering the seating area.

Autographs: Select Giants legends will sign autographs during practice each day for all fans. A listing of those Giants legends and the dates they will sign will be released on Giants.com.

Each day after practice, a rotating group of current Giants players will sign autographs for the first 400 fans age 12 and under. The autograph opportunity will take place behind the Kids’ Zone area. All kids who are interested in the opportunity are encouraged to visit the sign-up table with a guardian immediately upon arriving at the practice so that they can receive a wristband. The sign-up table will be located immediately in front of the kids’ autograph area, and all wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Once wristbanded, they can enjoy the rest of practice and are encouraged to return 30 minutes prior to the end of practice to be allowed into the autograph area. Kids must have a wristband to be permitted into the autograph area. There will not be a post-practice autograph session on August 5 or August 6.

Rain Policy: In the event of inclement weather (including rain, wind, thunderstorms or extreme heat), practices will be moved indoors and be closed to the public. Please check Giants.com prior to every practice for up-to-the-minute changes in the daily practice schedule.

Giants Open Training Camp, Announce Practice and Autograph Schedule

The past few season's I've been going up to MetLife Stadium with the kids to watch a session or two of the Giants pre-season practices. If you're a football fan you really should go, it's a blast. As a bonus, after practice players from the Giants great fans and autograph whatever you can squeeze past the hordes of other fans seeking autographs. It's fun and a true sport in itself!

Here are the schedules for the upcoming open practices and auto sessions for training camp at MetLife stadium:

Saturday Morning Cartoon: A Guide To American Football

In honor of the start of the 2014 NFL season, here's a primer for those who have absolutely no idea what football is or what it's all about.

Giants Training Camp schedule announced

The countdown has begun, only two more weeks before the Giants open training camp at their Quest Diagnostic Training Center adjacent to MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford NJ.  I'm going to check out a practice or two before the end of camp.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The New York Giants announced the schedule for their 2014 Training Camp presented by Toyota at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Camp will feature 16 practice sessions open to the public.


The first practice session will take place on Tuesday, July 22 at 1:20 p.m. The normal training camp schedule has the team on the practice field from 1:20 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The team is scheduled to conduct an early evening practice from 5:40 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. on August 6th.

General admission seating for approximately 2,000 is available on a first-come basis. Standing room along the fence line of the perimeter of the practice fields is also available. There is no admission charge for watching training camp workouts and parking is free. Public parking is in Lot K on the grounds of the MetLife Sports Complex. The lots will open to the public one hour before the scheduled start time of practice and lots will close one hour following the conclusion of practice. All fans attending practice will be subject to security screening before entering the seating area.

Fan Guidelines: Practice sessions will be open to the public throughout training camp (July 22-Aug. 14). Limited seating is provided alongside the practice fields. Restroom facilities, concession stands and a free kida activity area will also be available. A different position group of Giants players will sign autographs for fans each day following practice.

See Training Camp Schedule

From one Raritan Rocket to another Congrats To Bennet Jackson

Being a graduate of Hazlet's Raritan High School myself, I couldn't resist posting this picture of a fellow Raritan Rocket, Bennet Jackson. After playing collegiate ball at the University of Notre Dame, Bennet  was selected by the NY Giants during the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft this past Saturday.

I believe Bennet Jackson will be the only football player in Raritan's history to play in the NFL, let alone be drafted. That puts him on top of all the other sports players in school history - including myself - who was one of  five co-captains of the 1982 Raritan Rocket football team.

 So from one former Raritan Rocket to another I wish to Congratulate Bennet Jackson on being chosen in the 6th rd pick of the draft by the Giants. I wish him a long and successful career that someday ends with enshrinement into the Football Hall fame in Canton.

(Bennet Jackson being fitted for his helmet at the Quest Diagnostic Center yesterday, picture from the NY Giants)

Here's a link to a slideshow posted on the NY Giants website showing the arrival of the 2014 rookies at the Quest Diagnostic Training Center being fitted for their gear.

How 'bout them Cowboys?

From: Josh Levitt
buonoforgovernor.com

Governor Christie was in Dallas last night to cheer on his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, against the hometown New York Giants and schmooze national conservatives in advance of his 2016 presidential bid. While the Governor's Dallas Cowboys won last night's game, New Jersey workers and families have lost big time over the past three and a half years. In Chris Christie's New Jersey, 400,000 residents are out of work, property taxes have risen by 20 percent and middle class families are struggling to make ends meet. Moreover, a recent report found that 25 percent of New Jersey families are poor, unable to afford the basic necessities. New Jersey needs a Governor who will put the Garden State first and tackle the big issues facing the state. 

Poverty in N.J. reaches 52-year high, new report shows
By Brent Johnson//The Star-Ledger
Poverty in New Jersey continued to grow even as the national recession lifted, reaching a 52-year high in 2011, according to a report released today. The annual survey by Legal Services of New Jersey found 24.7 percent of the state's population — 2.1 million residents — was considered poor in 2011. That's a jump of more than 80,000 people — nearly 1 percent higher than the previous year and 3.8 percent more than pre-recession levels. "This is not just a one-year or five-year or 10-year variation," said Melville D. Miller Jr., the president of LSNJ, which gives free legal help to low-income residents in civil cases. "This is the worst that it's been since the 1960 Census." And it may get worse: The report warned Census figures for 2012 to be released this month may be higher. Those numbers are expected to show some of the impact from Hurricane Sandy, which took a bite out of the state's economy and destroyed a large amount of affordable housing.
… State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), the Democratic nominee battling Christie in this year's gubernatorial race, said the poverty numbers are an example of how the governor's policies haven't worked. "This report is a damning commentary on his failed conservative economic philosophy that protects millionaires from paying their fair share at the expense of everyone else," she said. "He does not care about the consequences of these decisions for working-class families in New Jersey."

Report: 25 percent of N.J. families are poor
By Dave Sheingold//The Record
Poverty levels in New Jersey are bad and getting worse, as a quarter of the state's households now struggle to afford housing, food, medical care and other necessities, according to a new report by a leading poverty research group. The study, released today by the Legal Services of New Jersey Poverty Research Institute, says that in one of the nation's wealthiest states, 2.1 million people live in households that have a hard time meeting their basic needs. That number grew by about 359,000 during and after the Great Recession and now comprises 24.7 percent of New Jersey residents. Hardest hit is Passaic County, where 37 percent of the residents are poor, followed by Cumberland, Essex and Hudson counties, while Bergen County's rate stands at 18 percent. Even in Morris, Hunterdon and Somerset and other wealthy counties in northern New Jersey, 10 to 14 percent of the residents are poor, according to the report, which is based largely on 2011 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Poverty in New Jersey Hits 52-Year High Under Christie
By Greg Richter//Newsmax
New Jersey's poverty level hit a 52-year-high in 2011 despite the economic recovery on the national level. In a report released Sunday, Legal Services of New Jersey said 24.7 percent of New Jersey residents — at total of 2.1 million— was termed poor in 2011, The Star-Ledger reports. The number is almost 1 percent higher than in 2010 and 3.8 percent above levels from before the Great Recession began. "This is not just a one-year or five-year or 10-year variation," Melville D. Miller Jr., the president of LSNJ, told the Star-Ledger. "This is the worst that it's been since the 1960 Census."
Report: 25 percent in NJ living in poverty
AP
A new report claims one-quarter of New Jerseyans are living in poverty. The study released Sunday by the Legal Services of New Jersey Poverty Research Institute concludes that more than two million people in New Jersey are struggling to meet their basic needs. Their numbers have increased since the beginning of the economic recession by more than 300,000. The poorest county is Passaic, followed by Cumberland, Essex and Hudson, according to the report. Nationally, the poverty line is defined as about $23,000 for a family of four. But the New Jersey study puts the threshold at double that number because it says New Jersey's cost of living is significantly higher than the national average. The report also finds that children and Hispanics have suffered the most from increasing poverty.
Poverty levels rising each year in N.J., Cumberland County second highest
Press of Atlantic City
Despite the recession being over, New Jersey residents continue to live in poverty, according to a report released this month by the Legal Services of New Jersey. "Poverty rates in New Jersey have risen steadily since the beginning of the recession, reaching record highs in 2011," the report said. This is evident in the unemployment rates and food stamp enrollments. The 2011 poverty rate, 10.4 percent, is close to the rates seen about 50 years ago in 1959- the rate then was 11.3 percent, the report said. In Atlantic County, the percent of the population living below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) in 2011 was 32.4 percent, the report said. The highest level since 2006 was in 2010 at 33.4 percent. Cumberland County was the second poorest county in the state and reported 37 percent of residents below the FPL in 2011, which was also the highest rate reported from 2006-2011 in the county, according to the report. Cape May County reached 25.9 percent in 2011, but the highest reported was in 2009 at 28.5 percent. Ocean County saw the highest rate of poverty in 2011 at 27.4 percent. 

Christie Admits To Being a Dallas Cowboys Fan

Here is just one more reason not to support the reelection bid of Governor Chris Christie - Christie admitted yesterday that he isn't a New York Giants fan, but a Dallas Cowboy fan!

How can any self-respecting  NY Giants, NY Jets or for that matter, a Philadelphia Eagle fan, support a man who roots for the Dallas Cowboys ? It's just about impossible to do so.

Funny, he seemed to be a huge fan of the Giants down on the field after the Giants beat the New England Patriots after Super Bowl XLVI.

Talk about being an opportunistic politician... 

From Giants101.com:

Outspoken New Jersey governor Chris Christie may have to watch his words on a number of issues, but he made his allegiances clear in his NFL affiliations yesterday. Although Christie is the leader of the great state of New Jersey, he admits he;s not a fan of either team that calls the Meadowlands home.

"It is not the New York Jets … and it is not the Philadelphia Eagles," Christie said to ESPNNewYork.com. "Get ready now. My favorite football team are the Dallas Cowboys … which by the way is not the smartest thing for the Governor of New Jersey to want to be is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys."

Politically, rooting for the Cowboys is not the most savvy if moves when two other professional teams play in New Jersey. Even if Christie was a Jets fan, he could at least have a justifiable excuse. As a Cowboys fan, he comes off as a bandwagon football fan who grew up nowhere near Dallas, but fell in love with the likes of Troy Aikman and Emmett Smith during the mid to late 1990s.

In fact. Christie admitted that the success, or lack there of, of both New York football teams during his childhood played a major role in which team he chose to root for as an adult.

"The Giants and the Jets pretty much stunk when I was a kid," Christie said. "And my father was a Giants fan and I used to remember watching him when I was eight, nine-years-old. Every Sunday, he would watch the Giants and yell at the TV set. I used to think to myself, why would I want to root for a team that makes you angry? So I decided not to and the Cowboys were really good back then."

If Christie had remained a Giants fan, he would have saved himself a great heartaches over the last several seasons. Instead, in the past couple of years, he's called the team the "New Jersey Giants" and even picked the Jets to defeat them, and now he has to hope his non-political affiliates do not effect his upcoming political aspirations.

NFL Week 13 - Princess Picks Giants v. Redskins

Not many people last week, thought that the Giants - coming off their bye week - would win their big match-up against the Green Bay Packers as easily and handily as they did. Winning the game by the score of 38-10, the NY Giants increased their winning record  to 7-4.  More impressive however, the win also increased Princess the Camel's won/loss record to an amazing 8-1.

With this week's pick, Princess is hoping to extend both her and the Giants winning ways, by picking the Giants to beat Robert Griffin III (RG3) and his Washington Redskins, Monday night down in our nation's capitol.

When questioned by her handler John about her habit of choosing the Giants lately and possible becoming a die-hard fan of the team Princess responded, "...I just call them like I see them...".

That's what I like, a camel that is self confident and cocky when it comes down to being questioned over her methodology of predicting the outcome between NFL teams.

I feel pretty good about this pick as well. I think the Giants will have some trouble containing RG3 and will give up a ton of yard on the ground, but the Giant defense will do enough against the run and take away Griffin's passing game enough for Eli and his receivers to score a few touchdowns to win a close game.  It should be a nail biter right down to the final seconds.

Princess Picks Week 12 - Giants vs. Packers

After a three week lay off due the after effects of Hurricane Sandy, the prognosticating camel of Popcorn Park Zoo - Princess - is back.

In returning from her hiatus brought on by the storm, Princess is making a bold prediction this week. She says that the Giants, in the middle off their midseason funk and coming off their bye-week, are ready to return to their winning ways by defeating the Green Bay Packers tomorrow night at Met-Life Stadium.

So what makes Princess so sure that the Giants, losers of two games in a row will beat a Packers team that is currently on a five game win streak?

" I've got a gut feeling on this one..., but I really do think the Giants are going to come together and pull this one out." Princess said.

That may be a bit optimistic and a bit unsoothsayerish on Princess's part, but when you have a strong gut feeling about something, it generally is right, so who am I to question it.

Here's hoping that Princess gut is correct and the Giants come out of Sunday night's game against the Packers victorious.  GO BIG BLUE!

Quote of the day...

"We aren't the king of the NFL. The Giants are. The Giants are still the team to beat."
- San Francisco 49ers Cornerback Carlos Rogers, after yesterdays big loss to the NY Giants

Princess Picks Week 6 - Giants Vs. 49ers

Princess and the Giants are coming off a big win last week. With the Giants win over the Cleveland Browns, her winning NFL picks record stands at a very respectable W4-L1. Is her and the Giants success getting the better of her with this weeks pick?

Princess is taking the Giants to upset the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday.

But does this mean this week's NFL pick from our prognosticating camel is a confident one - far from it. It seems she is having doubts about her pick, but is sticking by it.

When told by her trainer John that she was going to have to pick between the Giants and 49ers this week here is the exchange that took place between them:

"...John, the 49ers? The same 49ers team that is out for revenge from last year’s playoff loss and have outscored their opponents by 70 something to 3 …. those 49ers?
Yes, those 49ers ….

Girl, you just told me that the 49ers – probably one of the better teams in the league are out for revenge for last year’s loss in the playoffs to the Giants ..… have outscored their opponents by amazing numbers in the last 2 weeks ….. and they are playing at home. You been eating those tinted graham crackers again?

Well, John, maybe ummm .... maybe ummm, we can do a do-over? That will give me more graham crackers and maybe a chance to change my mind, you know, like after talking it over with you.

I got a couple more graham crackers for you girl, but .....

Alright John, I’m not backtracking. I really do think the Giants will win this game. If for nothing else to show Jacobs and Manningham they made the wrong decision to leave the Giants and sign with the 49ers. Besides the Giants have Eli."

So there you have it, a slightly less than confident camel and her pick for this week 6 of the NFL.  As a big blue fan I'm hoping that she is ultimately correct but even I am having my doubts.

This will be, in my opinion, the toughest game the Giants will play all year, more so than any game played thus far this year or any other game yet to come.

The 49ers are young, fast and explosive on both sides of the ball and will be able to move the ball readily against the Giants defense I'm afraid. And unless the Giants can get a solid running game  going against the 49ers defense (at least a 100 yrds) it will be a long day for Eli and the Giants.    

Princess Picks Wk 5 - Giants vs. Browns

It's NFL week 5 and Princess the Camel, coming off a big win last week picking the 49ers over the Jets, has made her prediction for this weeks game.

In this weeks NFL match up featuring the NY Giants vs the Cleveland Browns, our prognostication Camel from Popcorn Park Zoo, is staying true blue with her pick. Princess says it will be the Giants over the Browns this week at Met-Life Stadium.

"...the Giants are going to win. The Browns haven’t won a game all year -- they are 0 and 4....",  Princess stated matter of factly.

Much like last week I have to agree with Princess, this one is a no brainer. Despite the Giants being bitten heavily this week by  "injury bug", Hakeem Nicks out with a knee injury, Rahmses Barden out with a concussion, Antrolle Rolle swollen knee, Kenny Phillips Hamstring.... The Giants should be able to win this game handily and have players back in the line-up next week against the 49ers in San Fransico.

Go Giants!!

OP-ED: Governor Rex Christie

In light of the big game tonight, Josh Henne sent me a link to this op-ed he wrote on the striking similarities between Rex Ryan & Chris Christie. It appears over at PolitickerNJ:

In a sea of vanilla coaches and milquetoast politicians, Jets Coach Rex Ryan and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have burnished reputations for bluster, bullying and bombast. They’re tailor-made for the attention-deficit, me-first, sizzle-over-substance society we live in. A splashy quote, a bold claim with a curse-word thrown in for good measure…and bickety-bam you’ve got a nice hit on the nightly news or a clip to go viral online. Sure, these two men can be considered refreshing. But so is a colonic. And you certainly don’t want to deal with either on a daily basis.

It stands to reason these two larger-than-life characters stand out – because Christie and Ryan both furnish the media with quality copy and soundbites. However, there’s a fine line between being charming and becoming a caricature of yourself. And leaders are afforded a short rope before folks start realizing the rhetoric doesn’t match the results. In recent months, Christie and Ryan have planted their feet firmly on the wrong side of both accounts.

The beauty of both politics and the playing field is that these arenas are results-oriented. The metrics of wins and accomplishments are the only ones that matter. It’s not just about who can talk the biggest game. And the shtick employed by both Christie and Ryan runs thin once you scratch the surface of their swagger.

No one remembers football teams who never make it to the big game – no matter how many times their coach promises a trip to the Super Bowl. Rex believes if he yells loud enough folks will forget choking in the conference championship or failing to even make the playoffs. If Ryan makes himself the story, perhaps fans won’t notice his team regressing or his quarterback failing to grow.

In politics, its hard to take someone seriously who hogs the spotlight, bashes his own state to pander to Iowa crowds and tosses the word “hell” into public statements like a twelve-year old who just discovered cursing. It’s difficult to believe someone is authentic when they pack taxpayer-funded townhall meetings with partisan backers and care more about generating youtube moments than results. It’s hard to take Governor Christie at his word as he pledges poverty when cutting essential programs, yet miraculously finds funds to give handouts and bailouts to casino execs, mall developers and those at the tippy top of the economic strata.

The words “doing the big thing” are often shouted to the rafters by Chris Christie. Yet if you look at actual results, he comes up small every time. New Jersey lags the nation when it comes to employment. And no matter how many times Christie claims he hasn’t raised taxes, all anyone has to do is hold up a train ticket, scan a tuition bill from a state university or look at their property taxes to see swelling costs.

Both Christie and Ryan have an amazing ability to change the topic following failures. Rex shoots off his mouth after a loss, giving excuses while still calling his team the one to beat - no matter how badly he was outcoached by those who might not be as flashy, but have more substance. When Christie skipped town with an historic blizzard bearing down on his state, the governor refused to take responsibility and even blamed local mayors when he finally came home from his Disney vacation. When New Jersey’s children lost $400 million in Race to the Top funding because his administration bungled a simple application, Christie first blamed Barack Obama and then threw his own Education Commissioner under the bus.

Chris Christie might not share Rex Ryan's predilection for sucking on toes. But the governor does spend an inordinate amount of time and energy sucking up to the Koch Brothers, Karl Rove and corporate lobbyists. And that’s a far more nefarious fetish. Because these one-percenters are seeking to scale back regulations in order to better their bottom line - even if it means poisoning New Jersey's land, air and water. In Christie’s New Jersey, middle-class families find themselves in harms way time and again.

Like Rex Ryan, Christie’s image as a take-charge guy rings hollow when you see the rudderless execution of plans. Womens’ health, infrastructure improvements and education efforts have all been defunded. Cops and firefighters receive pink slips, while crime escalates. And Christie has no vision for the future – as evidenced by cancelling the ARC Tunnel linking to Manhattan which would have taken cars off the road, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, raised home values and created 6,000 immediate jobs and 45,000 future jobs.

On the playground, the cardinal rule is that when you’ve got a big mouth you’ve got to be able to back it up. The quickest way to shut up a bully is to call them out. And for all their blunt statements and bold claims, folks are finally catching onto the Christie-Ryan playbook. The coach and the governor have both elevated the bar with inflated achievement to the point that even slight improvements would seem mundane when the tale of the tape is truly told. More and more, their exhortations are being met with eyerolls and yawns.

With his annual guarantees of a Super Bowl victory, yet failing to even make the playoffs this year, Rex Ryan is clearly no second coming of Joe Namath. And Chris Christie...well, let's just hope he goes the way of Sarah Palin. A one-term governor with a big personality who burst onto the national scene and became addicted to the adulation to the point of diminishing returns and eventual ridicule.

What society needs – in all facets of life - are leaders of substance focused on results, not their own ego or personal gratification. Clearly, Coach Ryan and Governor Christie care more about creating headlines than making a real difference. We should treat them like a parent dropping off a crying kid at nursery school. All they want is attention, so if we just walk away hopefully they'll get the hint and cut the act.

Josh Henne is a Democratic strategist and a Giants fan.

CBSsports.com Super Bowl XLVI preview Giants vs. Patriots

Will the Patriots get revenge this time around or will the Giants continue their run to another Super Bowl title? Pat Kirwan joins Scott Braun for the preview.

Giants will win Super Bowl XLVI, predicts ‘Madden NFL 12′

By Ben Silverman | Plugged In @ Yahoo Games

The New England Patriots might be the odds-on favorite to win Super Bowl XLVI, but the New York Giants have proven an uncanny knack for making odds-makers look ridiculous.

And according to Madden, they're about to do it again.

EA Sports has simulated Sunday's Big Game in Madden NFL 12 on the Xbox 360, and in another insane playoff nail-biter, the Giants edged out the Patriots, 27-24, to take home the franchise's fourth Lombardi trophy.

But forget about the anticipated match-up between Tom Brady and Eli Manning. Like the last two playoff games, this one came down to a field goal. Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, fresh off demolishing the dreams of San Francisco fans in OT, knocked down a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give the Giants the victory. Wonder if they simulated a virtual Billy Cundiff weeping pixilated tears, too?

The unlikely Giants win almost didn't happen. The Madden simulation saw Brady rally his troops from a 24-10 fourth quarter deficit, throwing for two TDs to tie up the game. But like he's done all year, Manning stormed back during the last Giants possession to set up the game-winning kick. He was also named the game's MVP, finishing 25-39 for 342 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

The annual Madden simulation has proven pretty accurate at picking Super Bowl winners, though it fumbled pretty badly last year in taking the Steelers over the Packers. Still, it's got a track record most gamblers would envy, nailing 6 of the last 8 games.

More ....Here

Princess Picks the Super Bowl! - Giants v. Pats

Princess the Camel is all over the news today, it seem that the only time anyone pays much attention to her is when she is making a Super Bowl prediction that involves our beloved NY Giants, which is not the case here. I've been covering Princess and her picks all season long on this blog!


As you all know Princess has an outstanding record this season that currently stands at 14-6. Myself and many more Giants fans out there are hoping that her record extends to 15 correct picks after next Sunday's Super Bowl in Indianapolis where the NY Giants and the NE Patriots will meet in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII.

Princess's big prediction for Super Bowl XLVI next week is that the Giants will come out victorious once again against the Patriots.

Here's what she had to say:

"...I know all about Belichick & Brady. I know how good the Patriots can be, but I've got a feeling Brady will be on his butt more often than not, the Giants defense is that good!! Eli and the offense will do what it takes to win."

If you are interested in watching Princess make her pick, Brick Patch has a video posted online showing Princess and her handler John, making the pick.

Saturday Morning Cartoons -Freddy the Freshman

Here's a little cartoon to help you get ready for the big game on Sunday between the Giants and 49ers.