Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.
The New York Giants were an afterthought in 2007, but made their way to a Super Bowl title. In 2008, the Giants found a way to earn home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, only to last one game. Their playoff loss to Philadelphia was certainly disappointing, but the fact that they earned the top seed after the drama they went through was impressive in itself. Now, it's time for the Giants to re-tool, reload, and get back to the Super Bowl.
Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds. Here's Week 9 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.
Studs
Tim Hightower, RB Arizona (22 rushes, 109 yards, 1 TD) -- Edgerrin James is a name that will be quickly forgotten in West Phoenix if Hightower continues these games. The rookie running back, in his first game as starter, averaged five yards per carry and made one of the worst rushing teams in the league relevant again on the ground. While James has pouted about his role in the offense, Hightower has quietly snagged carries, and Ken Whisenhunt took notice. Good news for Tim -- you have the 49ers and Seahawks the next two weeks. If Hightower is available in your fantasy league, you need to grab him and also get smarter friends.
See that picture to the right? That is Justin Tuck, and he is placed gingerly on top of Dallas quarterback Brad Johnson. If you watched the Giants beating today, you probably understand why this was the picture we picked.
Basically Wade Phillips, Jerry Jones and company are in serious trouble. Dallas looked as bad as the Giants looked good.
While Eli Manning and company were doing what they do, the Cowboys were throwing interceptions, fumbling the football and allowing guys like Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward to run all over them. If it wasn't for a second quarter interception by Mike Jenkins of the Cowboys, this game might have been called for the mercy rule.
While the quarterback position is a serious problem for Dallas, it appears the woes are deeper than that.
Marion Barber, who averaged a pitiful 2.8 yards per carry, bounced outside all day, which would have been a good idea if two or three Giants weren't sitting there waiting for him.
Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.
Quarterback: Who would have thought a year ago that the perception of Eli Manning would have changed so drastically? That's what happens when you win a Super Bowl. But can you really expect Manning to be as precise as he was during that improbable championship run? Either the light finally went on for Manning, or he simply found a zone. Or a combination of the two. Last year was a step forward, for sure, but I expect Eli Manning v.2008 to resemble something in between the lows and highs of the two Eli Mannings circa 2007. Still, that's good enough to win games. What isn't good enough to win games is David Carr, the team's new backup, so Manning better stay upright for all 16. Heat Index: 7
Running back: The Giants found out exactly how critical depth at running back is, and they also found out that they luckily have it. Great contributions came from Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Derrick Ward, and Reuben Droughns. Danny Ware will likely take Droughns' place this year, but the team is still set in the backfield. Jacobs' combination of speed and power is pretty unstoppable, and while punishing backs don't typically have long shelf lives, Jacobs is in his prime now if he stays healthy this year. Heat Index: 8
Lost amid all the breathless Brett Favre talk is the poor sap set to replace him. Sure, we've discussed Aaron Rodgers in passing, especially when he makes seemingly silly proclamations, but do we really know how he feels about succeeding easily the most popular player in Green Bay history?
Well, if we believe Rodgers, who spoke to the media yesterday, he's hanging in there.
"I don't need people to feel sorry for me," Rodgers said. "Playing quarterback is a tough job and there's a lot of scrutiny that goes along with that. You get too much blame some of the times, you get too much blame some of the times.
"You've just got to stay balanced. When you realize things happen for a reason, you don't question why they happen, you realize it's going to be an experience. The last three years, and this past off-season, have made me the person I am, and I wouldn't have changed it for anything."
Rodgers then added, "That said, I hate Brett Favre with every fiber of my being -- part of me hopes he goes to the Vikings so I can shove it up his a-- twice a season. Wait, did I say that out loud?*"
The Green Bay Packers took a 10-6 lead to the half, but the New York Giants controlled the time of possession during he first 30 minutes. And it was more of the same in the second half. Still, the 38:22 to 21:38 advantage notwithstanding, the two teams were all knotted up at 20 at the end of regulation.
I mentioned during halftime that despite the arctic conditions, the kickers for both teams were unaffected, going 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts. I also wondered if the game would ultimately come down to special teams. Well, kicker Lawrence Tynes twice had opportunities to give the Giants the lead in the second half -- once with four seconds to go in the fourth quarter -- and both times he pull-hooked it.
In overtime, the Packers got the ball first, which is usually a good thing. Two plays into the first series, though, Brett Favre threw an interception. And just like that, the Giants had the ball at the Green Bay 34 with three timeouts and more than 13 minutes on the clock.
When the Giants have the ball: After struggling late in the season, New York's offense turned it around at just the right time. The combination of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs has been devastating, while Eli Manning finally established himself as a quality NFL quarterback. Add in better playcalling and you suddenly have a high quality offense.
Defensively, however, Green Bay is as good as they come. Their front seven can stop any rushing attack the league has to offer, while their secondary has to be considered one of the best around. They consistently play stress free and for the most part, mistake free.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers put eight in the box to stop Brandon Jacobs and let the New York Giants know that Eli Manning would have to win the game for them. There was just one problem with that strategy: Eli Manning won the game for them.
Manning completed 20 of 27 passes for 185 yards and 2 TDs to lead the New York Giants to a 24-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a date with NFC East rivals Dallas next Sunday. Along the way, he got some help from some expected and unexpected sources.
Expected? The Giants' pass rush. The defense adjusted after the Bucs scored a touchdown on their opening drive, and while it only registered one sack, it harassed Jeff Garcia and disrupted his timing all afternoon. Joey Galloway hurting his shoulder didn't help, as that took away the Bucs' only deep threat.
Unexpected? How about cornerback Corey Webster, who was pushed into starting duty after Sam Madison suffered a rib injury last week? Webster not only played well in pass coverage, but he figured prominently in two Bucs' turnovers in the third quarter, recovering Michael Spurlock's fumble on the opening kickoff and intercepting Garcia in the end zone.
When Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants refused to lie down for the undefeated New England Patriots, they knew and understood the potential consequences. Unfortunately, those consequences landed three key starters on the sidelines.
According to Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger, Madison didn't suffer an abdominal strain as previously reported; he actually suffered a pulled muscle in his rib cage. It's an injury that supposedly causes tremendous pain and has kept the veteran out of practice all week.
Should Madison and Dockery both find themselves on the sideline this weekend in Tampa Bay, the Giants will be forced to start Webster as they did in practice. And unfortunately, that's exactly what Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia wants to hear.
Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.
Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer. 
Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's 
See that picture to the right? That is 
Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, 
Lost amid all the breathless 
To get you ready for Championship Weekend, 
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers put eight in the box to stop Brandon Jacobs and let the New York Giants know that Eli Manning would have to win the game for them. There was just one problem with that strategy: Eli Manning won the game for them.
When 
Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.
