Today was Media Day in Glendale, where the media is allowed to bombard the team with any kind of question they want.  Players reveal everything from their mindset for the Super Bowl to their favorite movie as well as predictions for rugby matches in Europe.  Controversy is often created during this day, and again this year, the teams’ most vocal players are running their mouths.  Plaxico Burress predicted a 23-17 Giants victory,  Randy Moss said he’s the fastest, quickest, and strongest player on the Patriots, and Rodney Harrison revealed that if you are in the NFL, you must be acceptable to dirty play (that should play well for Shaun O’Hara, although he does shower daily).  Here is a funny snippet I found from “Hashmarks,” the blog on ESPN.com that covered media day:

Pierce: Patriots have to go through us
The man who referred to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as “Prince Charles” last month was at it again Monday. Even after the media session ended, Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce kept providing quotes.
Asked if he felt like the Giants were standing in the Patriots’ way, Pierce shot back, “I think they’re standing in our way. We’re not here to hand over the Lombardi Trophy to them. We’re not Roger Goodell.”
Pierce hinted that he was the one who convinced at least 50 members of the organization to arrive in the Phoenix area wearing black suits and ties. He was reluctant to provide an explanation for the wardrobe.
“It’s just business,” he said. “It’s for team unity.”
Defensive end Michael Strahan and receiver Plaxico Burress also showed up in black suits, but quarterback Eli Manning went against the grain with a navy five-button.
“He’s a quarterback,” Pierce explained. “Those are difficult guys to understand, like kickers.”
The Giants are staying about 30 minutes away from civilization. The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa resembles an elaborate Western movie set.
Giants players couldn’t believe their eyes as the team bus pulled into the secluded area. Pierce joked that the Patriots were staying in the middle of the action in north Scottsdale. Asked what he planned to do tonight, Pierce said, “I may go collect rocks.”
When we arrived at the resort, several Giants players were standing out front trying to arrange for transportation. The resort is surrounded by a lush golf course and a rodeo arena.

As the break week before the Super Bowl comes and goes, the excitement builds.  The Giants had their final practice at the Meadowlands for the season and are now on their way to Glendale.  It’s real folks.  The Giants are going to be in the Super Bowl.  And NYGiantscast will be right there to update you on everything that happens.

I would like to say a big thank you to Ken Palmer for coming on the show.  We are going to be doing a joint-cast with Patriotscast (I promise, it’ll be the only time I ever allow myself to speak with those people).  The cast will go on both sites.  That show might be coming out Tuesday rather than Monday, but we will keep you updated.  And of course, as time winds down to Super Bowl XLII, Kevin and I will do our regular preview show.  After the Bowl, we will do our usual recap show, and then we will do a season recap show, and prepare for the offseason.  The show will likely stay on the twice-a-week format for one more week to keep up with the offseason moves that happen right after the season is over, and then we will be switching to twice a month.  We also have an interview lined up for after the Super Bowl, but we will surprise you when it gets closer to that time.

 Everyone, stock up on your Giants gear, cause this Super Bowl promises to be as exciting as all the hype.

Reading Bill Simmons’ column in ESPN this week, I stumbled across the following gem:

The Dwight Howard Award for “Guy who most needs a nickname”
We need to figure out this Brandon Jacobs thing. The nickname “Nigerian Nightmare” made Christian Okoye sound 10 times more terrifying, yet “Brandon Jacobs” sounds like someone who got expelled from boarding school for trying to steal the SAT. Even worse, you can’t shorten his name (”B-Jake” doesn’t work), and you definitely can’t use his initials because, well, you know. So what do we do? The man clearly needs a nickname. Can we dust off “Night Train” for him? That has been dormant for a good 50 years since Dick Lane had it. Should we call him “The American Nightmare” as an homage to Okoye? At the very least, the Giants’ Web site should have a nickname contest to figure this out.

So here you go Bill…if the Giants’ website won’t do it, we will!  If anyone can think up a nickname for the Giants’ bruising running back, please post a comment on this story or e-mail us.  Even if you think it’s stupid, don’t worry…I will post a few to get the ball rolling, and I can guarantee that none of them will be used by Chris Berman any time soon.  We may have something for the winner although we can’t promise that at this point, but it’s possible.

Also, we realize the Eli Manning poll just plain sucks at this point, and has for a while, so if you guys have any ideas for a new poll before the Super Bowl please let us know.  Thanks!

The Atlanta Falcons will not be waiting until after the Super Bowl to interview Steve Spagnulo after all.  Atlanta is set to hire Jacksonville defensive coordinator Mike Smith, according to the ESPN.com article below.  That leaves just Washington, for the time being, with a coaching vacancy.  And get this - the man for the job may be former Giants coach Jim Fassel!  That’s right, Fassel met with owner Dan Snyder for a second time yesterday to discuss the vacancy.  Here’s a link to the article on the hiring of Smith.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3209686

Hey guys, we’ve got a great week and a half coming up for all of you right up to Super Bowl Sunday.  Here’s some must-see events coming up on NYGiantscast in the next few days:

-An exclusive interview with the editor of Giants Insider Ken Palmer where the Super Bowl and this upcoming offseason will be discussed.

-A joint podcast with Patriotscast previewing the game.

-Kevin and I will preview the game ourselves, giving you everything you need to know to watch the game, know what to look for, and even impress your friends!

Stay tuned folks, it’s sure to be an exciting week!

Hey everyone.  As we get ready for the Super Bowl, sometimes it’s nice to get confirmation from other sources that what we are saying isn’t totally and utterly ridiculous (well, at least not some of it).  On the Green Bay recap cast, Kevin mentioned that the draft choices from the most recent draft are all making some kind of an impact on the team this year.  Here’s an excellent AP article that goes further into depth about the huge positive effect these rookies are making on the field for the New York Football Giants.

Rookies Make an Impact

BRING ON THE PATRIOTS!

What an unbelievable game, probably one of the best, most thrilling football games I have ever watched with one of the most unlikeliest endings I’ve ever seen. Lawrence Tynes goes from one of the biggest goats in Giants history to one of the biggest heroes in the span of just minutes! You better believe we will recap this game from every angle tomorrow. Expect A LOT of shows and posts in the next 2 weeks as we get ready for the Super Bowl!

The Giants (deep breath) are going (another deep breath) to the Super Bowl. Still high on adrenaline after the overtime thriller, I am stunned that the G-Men were able to take down what many people (including me) thought to be the most complete team in the NFC, if not even the NFL. But they did it. Tynes decided not to pull a Jay-Feeley-in-Seattle and made the third attempt at a game-winning field goal. Coach Coughlin won his first conference championship game in his 3rd attempt. Eli Manning got the monkey off his back and has definately silenced critics for now. And most importantly, the Giants will get a second chance at the undefeated Patriots. Do they have a shot? After the last 3 or 4 weeks, there is no possible way I can say no. We will completely recap this unbelievable game tomorrow on the podcast. Stay tuned. I am still in shock right now.

As Tom Coughlin would say: “Bottom line: THE GIANTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL.”

Wondering what the kickoff temperature is going to be? 2 degrees.  That’s right.  And that’s not the whole of it.  Because the wind chill brings that 2 degrees to a toasty -15 degrees.  Poor ESPN reporter Ed Werder reported the information this morning in -13 degree weather, with a -38 degree wind chill.   O right, and there’s a 30% chance of flurries for the game.  Sorry Eli, please don’t get frostbite.

Now we switch to some more warmingly happy news.  ESPN’s John Clayton reports that Aaron Ross will play today, and Sam Madison is “on the good side of questionable.”  Unfortunately if Madison is unable to give it a go, Kevin Dockery is out for the game, so McQuarters will probably play in his spot.

CBs Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery did not play in practice on Wednesday - both were out last week and right now, I would say the odds are not in their favor.  Burress and McKenzie were limited as usual, while CB Aaron Ross who had to leave last week’s game was also limited.  7 Packers were limited but the only one who may not play is CB Will Blackmon, who was not missed last week as Tramon Williams stepped up in his place.