When you are 2-12 -- and probably worse than the 0-14 team -- you shouldn't expect to see any of your players headed to Honolulu for the Pro Bowl in February, unless he's having an individually historic season. So, when the St. Louis Rams players are complaining about the snub of their punter, Donnie Jones, your initial inclination is to just tell them to shut up. Except for one thing, Jones kind of is having a historic season.
- Jones averages over 50 yards per punt. The only other person in the history of the NFL to average over 50 yards a punt? It happened in 1940. Coincidentally, he passed away yesterday. The great Sammy Baugh did it for the Redskins.
-Also:
Jones' net average is an NFC-best 40.9 yards; the league record, dating to 1976, is 41.1, set last year by Oakland's Shane Lechler.
I guess it would make more sense if Jones was brutal at pinning opposition in the red-zone, but he's done so 18 times with only five touchbacks. Basically, if you look at the numbers in front of you, it's obvious he's punting from deep in Rams territory frequently this season, and bailing them out.
The AFC and NFC Pro Bowlers were announced a short while ago, and why make some pointless comment you are sure not to laugh at when we can just give you the rosters instead? Here goes.
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
If you thought New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles would ride off into the sunset after finally winning the big one, you thought wrong.
According to Arthur Staple of Inside the Giants, the 20-year NFL veteran has informed the team that he will return for a 21st season.
Feagles, who made $820,000 last season, will be another in a long line of Giants who either deserve or will be demanding a raise. However, unlike some of the others who just have their hand out, this 41-year old special teamer has earned it.
Although Feagles may not have the strongest leg in the NFL, he certainly has one of the most accurate. In an age where how far you kick generally determines your value, Jeff has stuck with what works for him by perfecting the coffin corner.
In addition to Feagles, the Giants are close to a five-year, $7 million deal with kicker Lawrence Tynes.
More often than not, I try to be as unbiased and neutral as possible when I publish something here at FanHouse. But today, for the very first time, I'll be writing a piece with complete bias and total disregard for the newly opened wounds of Patriots fans. This has been a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and with the OK from my FanHouse higher-ups, I plan to take full advantage of it.
Like most Giants fans, I'm still in a bit of a haze this afternoon -- a dream world if you will. I still expect to wake up from this wild fantasy, but with each passing second, the reality of the moment becomes clearer to me. The New York Giants, my New York Giants, have upset the world. The team that nobody gave a chance defeated the unbeatable en route to their third Super Bowl championship.
As someone whose emotions are dictated by how the Giants perform, I can honestly tell you that this is one of the top three moments of my entire life. Is that pathetic? Maybe it is; maybe it isn't. Either way, you will find very few people on this earth who are smiling larger than me today.
In the second quarter of Super Bowl XLII, the Giants' offense had a three-and-out in its own territory, and it looked like the momentum was going to swing in the Patriots' direction.
But Giants punter Jeff Feagles unleashed a 55-yard punt, and the Giants regained the field-position advantage. There would be no more scoring by either team in the quarter.
Feagles punted four times, and all four punts were excellent. In addition to that 55-yarder, he booted a high one that Kevin Faulk fair caught at the 11-yard line, kicked one to the coffin corner that went out of bounds at the 10-yard line, and nailed one 42 yards that was fair caught at the 20.
No punter will ever be Super Bowl MVP. But the 41-year-old Feagles, who became the oldest player in Super Bowl history yesterday, was as valuable as a punter gets.
The 42 Stops to Super Bowl XLII is a series that will feature stories, stats and interesting trivia that you can use to act smart as you prepare for Super Bowl XLII.
Let's hope that New York has to punt. When that happens, Giants punter Jeff Feagles will become the oldest player to play in Super Bowl history. On February 3rd, Feagles will be 41 years, 335 days old.
Feagles began his NFL career with the New England Patriots back in 1988. Two years later, he moved on the Philly where he spent the 1990-1993 seasons. He also played in Arizona (1994-1997) and Seattle (1998-2002) before playing the last five seasons with the Giants.
Feagles does own a few NFL record already. He ... not Brett Favre ... not Jim Marshall ... owns the NFL's longest consecutive games streak. He also holds the NFL record for most punts, most punts inside the 20-yd line and most career punting yards.
Ten days after the Super Bowl, Feagles will be inducted into the University of Miami Hall of Fame.
The previous oldest was Rams kicker Mike Horan (he was two days shy of his 41st birthday) in Super Bowl XXXIV.
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.
Defensive end Osi Umenyiora has earned himself a free vacation to Hawaii in February. Unfortunately, he's going alone. The Chief was the only New York Giant named to this year's Pro Bowl.
And while a certain level of congratulations is due, Giants fans have to be steaming mad over some of the snubs. No Michael Strahan? No Chris Snee? No Jeff Feagles? And more importantly, no Justin Tuck?
Honestly, how does Tuck get swept under a rug? Not only did his name fail to appear on the Pro Bowl ballot, he didn't even get a mention when the rosters were announced.
The guy has 10 sacks in a reserve role! He's a third string defensive end in New York, but still puts up better numbers than most NFC starters. Really, where is the justice in that?
Either way, it's nice to see Osi get what he deserves. He's turned himself into one of, if not the best defensive ends in the game. This will be his second Pro Bowl, but certainly not his last.
Remember that great 1987 University of Miami team? With Michael Irvin, the Blades brothers, Melvin Bratton, Daniel Stubbs, that team won the national championship, a year after the more famous 1986 team fell short.
But I doubt there are many fans who could name the only player left from that team in the NFL. It's Giants punter Jeff Feagles, and if you didn't know that, don't feel bad. According to a story Feagles once told, even some of his own Hurricanes teammates who later became his NFL teammates didn't know he was on the team.
But while those Miami teammates didn't know who Feagles was, his Giants teammates appreciate him. In fact, Arthur Staple of Newsday reports that the Giants are rallying to get Feagles in the Pro Bowl:
"He's the best I've ever seen," [linebacker Antonio] Pierce said of Jeff Feagles. "Ever since I got here, he's been deserving of [a Pro Bowl nod]."
Kawika Mitchell said: "You usually measure a punter by his ability to put the ball outside the numbers. Jeff does it whenever he wants to."
When you are 2-12 -- and probably worse than the 0-14 team -- you shouldn't expect to see any of your players headed to Honolulu for the Pro Bowl in February, unless he's having an individually historic season. So, when the St. Louis Rams players are complaining about the snub of their punter, Donnie Jones, your initial inclination is to just tell them to shut up. Except for one thing, Jones kind of is having a historic season.
Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, 
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