AUTHOR: Anthony Fucilli TITLE: Giants get set for McNabb, Jets have tough task DATE: 9/13/2006 08:58:00 PM ----- BODY:

The Giants are obviously going to see the best of Philadelphia this week, last year they had it easy in my opinion. They had to go play a Philadelphia team that was wearing the uniforms but weren't the team that dominated the NFC East the last five years. Now, Donovan McNabb is back. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him because he has a way of beating teams in the NFC East. He always has. I mean it was when he first came up when the Giants seemed to have his number, but ever since 2000 he has owned them. And now he's back. He has some weapons in Donte' Stallworth, Correll Buckhalter, Brian Westbrook, and L.J. Smith from Rutgers. So, McNabb will have something to say about this Giants-Eagles rivalry. The game is in Philly and it's going to be loud, so expect Donovan ready to go coming off that big win. I will tell you this, Michael Strahan and LaVar Arrington better be prepared, they can't go through this game like they did last week as 'no-shows.' They have to bring something to the table and the Giants better have a pass rush against Donovan because it will be similar as far as third down conversions if they don't get to him. I expect Jeremy Shockey to play and I don't think anything that happened to Shockey that will have any effect when they lineup Sunday. He might miss some practice time, but he's not missing this game. If Jeremy Shockey can walk, he will play on Sunday, and I don't think whatever happened to him against the Colts is anything to worry about. Chris Snee will miss the game. Rich Seubert came in and you didn't even know Chris Snee was out. So, that's the best thing I can say about the depth of the Giants offensive linemen, they were able to replace Snee who is becoming one of the better O-linemen in the league. Rich Seubert came in and replaced him and the Giants averaged more than six-yards per carry in the running game and Eli Manning had plenty of time back there. The good news is Snee will be back, it's not anything that needs to be scoped or anything. As for the Jets, I think the question with Chad Pennington has always been his durability, not his ability, and I think Chad Pennington has shown people this year that he's a lot healthier this year than last year. However, they face New England and you aren't going to be successful against New England without a running game. So, you are only fooling yourself if you think Chad Pennington is going to be able to spread the ball around and throw for 300-yards against the Patriots without a running game. Because if the Patriots force the Jets to be one dimensional, it's going to be a long day for Chad Pennington and the rest of the Jets. Speaking with Mike Nugent today, he swears it's not something psychological that effected his game last week. It was a bad habit he had picked up, he fixed it, and he feels his teammates have a lot of confidence in him, and he feels it's not something that's going to be a problem. I always wonder with kickers once they start missing kicks, that it's in their heads, but with Mike Nugent, and the fact he's supposed to be a very talented kicker, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt this week. But I know one thing, you can't miss extra-points in the NFL. They don't miss them in high school. There better be a Jet to look out for this week, and he better be rushing Tom Brady. I don't know who it is going to be, whether it is Shaun Ellis or Bryan Thomas, but somebody better show up and apply pressure or Brady will pick apart their secondary like a surgeon. In my opinion, last week they didn't put enough pressure on Kerry Collins and I know my partner, Dan Leberfeld, let the Jets defense off the hook because he said the Jets defense did a good job. But lets face it, Kerry Collins was there for a week, and they didn't apply enough pressure then, this week is a totally different situation. We are looking at one of the best quarterbacks in the league and if they don't apply pressure it will be a long day for Gang Green. I still think four or five wins is a realistic prediction for the Jets. I'm not taking anything away from Week 1, but the situation of playing against Tennessee where they put a QB in a week before the game was a major, major break for the Jets. Hey, the game was 16-0 at one point. It should have been put away, and the Jets looked at a team driving down the field and got to the six-yard line with a chance to send it into OT. This is not something I would beat my chest about. Meanwhile, there was some controversy circling around the Jets and Patriots and the Deion Branch situation, but to be honest with you, I think the whole situation is just mind games. I don't think it's anything that will have any effect on the future of the Jets and the Patriots organizations. Right now I think it is purely mind games.

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Dan Leberfeld DATE:9/14/2006 01:29:00 PM Why is Fooch always so caught up in style points? He kills the Giants for beating the Eagles last year without Donovan McNabb, and he attacks the Jets for upsetting the Titans because Kerry Collins was the quarterback.
Fooch this isn't gymnastics. There are no judges. A win is a win. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Tommy Guns DATE:9/15/2006 12:34:00 PM This is great ... You 2 should jump into the ring. I'd pay! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Joey P. DATE:9/15/2006 05:00:00 PM Fooch has passion, I'll give him that, but I have to say BOTH New York QBs have something to prove this year.

Eli, you're time as a 'potential' star has come and gone brother.

Chad, one big hit, you're done and so are the Jets' chances off winning five games.

Thoughts???

By the way, look out for some cold stares between Mangini and Belichick!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Giants Rule DATE:9/15/2006 05:06:00 PM Who has a greater 'friendship?' Fooch and Leberfeld or Jeter and A-Rod? Hmmmm ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Sammy DATE:9/15/2006 05:07:00 PM Mike Nugent...can him ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Eric DATE:9/15/2006 05:10:00 PM Flavor Flav wears a clock all the time ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: J-E-T-S DATE:9/15/2006 05:12:00 PM Respect for McNabb?? C'mon Fooch! The guy gave up in the biggest game there is! OOOOOH, I have a stomache ache! It's the Super Bowl. Suck it up! T.O. was right, with another QB like Favre, the Eagles beat the Patriots. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: James C. Irwin DATE:9/25/2006 02:36:00 PM The Giants showed they CANT score a ton and expect to win. Whats up with this D??

Get rid of Shockey! Enough of this guy's mouth. He reminds me of Keyshawn - an OK player who thinks he's better than he truly is. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: sammie DATE:9/25/2006 02:38:00 PM can the jets please learn how to run! regardless of leberfeld's love for houston, these guys are flat. is it the play-selection or the players? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: braaaaaaaaaad DATE:9/25/2006 02:39:00 PM whats worse: the giants d or the jets running game!!! ----- --------