Many believe that NFL general managers earn their paychecks based on their level of success in the later rounds of the draft by uncovering those hidden gems that can push a team over the top. With the NFL’s scouting process now winding down, many names are being brought to the forefront that weren’t exactly on the tip of anyone’s tongues when the collegiate season started. This segment called Under the Radar will continue to explore just what scouts find attractive about certain prospects that may be available beyond the glamour rounds of the draft and why you’re team may be interested in landing one of these sleepers. More »

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The Arizona Cardinals appear to be content with letting Karlos Dansby test the free agent market, even though he’s one of the top defenders. The Cardinals placed the franchise tag on Dansby the past two seasons, and don’t plan on making it three years in a row. With Dansby having a sub-par season in 2009, he is still a top defender in the open market, and will receive a lot of attention from potential suitors. But which teams will make the push for Dansby this offseason? More »

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After five seasons, a Super Bowl championship, a tumultuous 2008 season, an air horn in the locker room, a serious neck injury and plenty of other ups and downs as an outspoken defensive captain, Antonio Pierce’s time with the Giants is over. More »

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Unlike franchise quarterbacks such as Joe Montana and more recently Brett Favre, it would be difficult to picture Indianapolis Colts elite signal caller Peyton Manning ever putting on a different colored jersey. According to many sources around the Super Bowl, the potential of that ever taking place is to be put out of the realm of possibility after the season concludes as the two sides will sit down and negotiate an extension for Manning’s contract. More »

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To sum up Kurt Warner’s career in a word or two would be an injustice to the remarkable accomplishments that he accrued during his twelve year stint in the NFL. From an undrafted Northern Iowa alum who spent two years in the AFL with the Iowa Barnstormers as well as one year in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals to his meteoric rise to fame in 1999 when Trent Green went down for the year with an ACL tear and Warner was called upon to lead the historically pathetic St. Louis Rams that season. Parallel to his own Hollywood-esque rags-to-riches story, Warner led the once league-wide laughing stock Rams to the Super Bowl where he amassed what is still the greatest passing performance in Super Bowl history in their dramatic victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. More »

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If you watched the Super Bowl in 2007, when the New York Giants faced the New England Patriots, you are probably aware that Jeremy Shockey, who was then a member of the Giants, did not participate in the game. The reason why Shockey did not play in that epic game was because of a broken leg, which he suffered in December of that season. More »

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Because of the Dallas Cowboys’ victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday night, next week’s matchup between the Eagles and the Cowboys will be for the NFC East crown. Both teams have clinched playoff spots, yet their positioning has not been set in stone. Actually, a strong possibility is that the winner of the game will host the loser in the first round of the playoffs. More »

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Numb…

Call me spoiled, delusional, or just a die hard fan…but this wasn’t supposed to end like this. After four straight seasons with a playoff appearance, I had grown accustomed to the Giants being there no matter what in the end. The Giants were supposed to come in and close out Giants Stadium,fresh off of a commanding victory over the Washington Redskins, with a win over the Panthers in route to a strong playoff run. Not only didn’t that happen, but the Giants did the opposite of what everyone thought they would. They were embarrassed at home in a game that they needed to win. With their backs against the wall they barely made an effort to compete as their dismal season came to an ugly end. This loss will not just go away, it will linger on in the hearts and mind of the entire NFL as the game that exposed the Giants for who they really are. Was 2007 a fluke? Is Tom Coughlin back on the hot seat? What needs to happen for them to get better? Who stays…and who goes as the team tries to pick up the pieces on what could have been in 2009? More »

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We can only hope THIS Brandon Jacobs comes to play tonight in Washington. Somehow I doubt it though.

This is a huge game for the New York Giants tonight. They have an opportunity to continue on with their playoff hopes if they pull out this divisional win against the Washington Redskins. More »

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With the NFL season headed into its final quarter, there are two teams that still have not lost a game yet. Those teams are, of course, the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. With each team having a strong possibility of winning their remaining four games and going perfect for the season, an important question needs to be asked: “Should these teams continue to play all of their players until the final week of the season, or should they rest their players in order to prevent a serious injury?”

This a question that is dealt with every season once teams start clinching playoff spots, and it is something that is thought about with extra attention when a team has the chance to go perfect in the regular season. So what should Sean Payton and Jim Caldwell do with their teams?

In my opinion, the answer to this question is not too hard to come up with. I think that both teams would be better off if they continue to start players for the rest of the season. Here’s why:

First of all, whenever you have the opportunity to make history, I think you need to give it your best shot. The chance for a perfect season does not come around every season (Even though the Pats just did it in 2007), and it is not something that should be taken lightly. If either team is able to go perfect for the season and win the Super Bowl, there is no doubt that the team would be honored for many years to come. Just look at the accolades that the ‘72 Miami Dolphins still receive until this day. If you have a chance to reach a level like that, I say that you need to do everything in your power to achieve it.

Secondly, the teams that usually do well when the playoffs roll around, are the teams that have the most momentum ( The ‘07 New York Giants are a perfect example) . When you rest your players, you risk getting your team off of its momentum. So, by resting your players you might think that you are preventing injuries, but in the process you are also hurting your team’s consistency, which can be even more deadly come playoff time (The Colts have done it in the past, and it has definitely affected them in the playoffs). Football is a game that can be changed by just a few inches, and precise accuracy versus average accuracy can be the difference in winning and losing. When you take your team out of its rhythm, those things will begin to show themselves, and they will ultimately hurt your football team. You need to remember, these guys are playing each week consistently for a few months. If you take off a week or two, there is a very good chance that the team is going to be rusty, and that is not what you want for your team heading into the postseason.

At the end of the day, you need to play to win, not play not to lose! If either team does decide to rest their players, I guarantee you it will show its negative effects in the playoffs.

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