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View Full Version : Joyner: NY Giants are NFC East favorites

Risen Star
08-20-2011, 09:07 AM
With better QB play from Eli Manning and a solid receiving core, Giants can win division


http://a.espncdn.com/i/columnists/Joyner_KC_35.jpg (http://a.espncdn.com/i/columnists/Joyner_KC_35.jpg)
By KC Joyner
ESPN Insider
Archive (http://search.espn.go.com/kc-joyner/)


The hottest topic in the NFL the past couple of weeks has been Vince Young (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/9589/vince-young)'s comment that the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-eagles) are a "Dream Team".

What is lost in all of the hype surrounding that quote is that, as stocked as Philadelphia's roster is, there are multiple reasons to think they might not even be the best team in the NFC East.

That honor could very well belong to the New York Giants (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyg/new-york-giants).

The Giants as NFC East favorites? The team that lost Steve Smith (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10495/steve-smith) and Kevin Boss (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10596/kevin-boss) in free agency (with Smith adding insult to injury by signing with the Eagles), lost Plaxico Burress (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2139/plaxico-burress) to their cross-town rivals and had first-round draft pick Prince Amukamara (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13975/prince-amukamara) go out with a foot injury should be considered a favorite to win this division?

In a word, yes.

Here are eight items that show why the Giants shouldn't be written off as second-place contenders in the NFC East.


Michael Vick (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/2549/michael-vick) wasn't anywhere near as good as his 2010 numbers suggest

One of the reasons Philadelphia won the NFC East in 2010 is that Vick had a near-MVP campaign, but the fact is he benefitted from more luck than maybe any other quarterback in the league.

He had only 19.4 percent of his potential interceptions turn into actual interceptions. That total was tied for the lowest interception luck factor rate in the league and indicates he was a huge beneficiary of fortunate bounces.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6865803/nfl-why-new-york-giants-nfc-east-favorites
burmafrd
08-20-2011, 09:20 AM
really sucks to post a article that you cannot read without joining BSPN
MichaelWinicki
08-20-2011, 10:05 AM
really sucks to post a article that you cannot read without joining BSPN

Well yeah.
Risen Star
08-20-2011, 10:20 AM
Sorry. Have to follow the rules around here.
Cowboys&LakersFan
08-20-2011, 10:39 AM
Manning isn't gonna get any better. He's gone downhill ever since winning the superbowl. Smith just left to Philly and so did Boss so I wouldn't call that a solid recieving core. They still have major linebacker issues and that once steady offensive line is getting old fast. The Giants have no chance at winning the division. Cowboys and Iggles are the clear favorites.
Risen Star
08-20-2011, 10:41 AM
Joyner states that Nicks and Manningham are more than capable of picking up the slack of losing Smith and Boss.

All I'll say is I agree it's possible. The Giants have flown under the radar this year. They're a contender.
Muhast
08-20-2011, 11:12 AM
Joyner states that Nicks and Manningham are more than capable of picking up the slack of losing Smith and Boss.

All I'll say is I agree it's possible. The Giants have flown under the radar this year. They're a contender.

You could argue Eli lost his two favorite targets: Smith/Boss, and they lost their top draft choice (Amukamara) to injury already. And cut two veteran linemen.

I think you could make a fair argument that they will be worse then last year, not better.
Risen Star
08-20-2011, 11:21 AM
You could argue Eli lost his two favorite targets: Smith/Boss, and they lost their top draft choice (Amukamara) to injury already. And cut two veteran linemen.

I think you could make a fair argument that they will be worse then last year, not better.

But when you factor in they added some nice pieces to their DL, the continued maturation process of Nicks and Manningham and improved play by Eli Manning, they could easily be better than last year.
Muhast
08-20-2011, 11:23 AM
But when you factor in they added some nice pieces to their DL, the continued maturation process of Nicks and Manningham and improved play by Eli Manning, they could easily be better than last year.


You could argue that as well.

I just don't think their additions are better then the subtractions (As far as we know now).

I guess we will see though.
BIGDen
08-20-2011, 11:44 AM
But when you factor in they added some nice pieces to their DL, the continued maturation process of Nicks and Manningham and improved play by Eli Manning, they could easily be better than last year.

Why would anyone assume that's going to happen? The guy led the entire NFL in turnovers again last year. He's done that at least twice now in his career. He lost 2 of his most trusted targets in Smith and Boss. The OL is questionable and they have holes on D - esp at LB. They can't seem to beat the Eagles. They lost to a Kitna-led Cowboys team last year and were losing to the Cowboys until Romo went down and the team deflated. I see no reason to consider them division favorites or serious contenders. They're average to above-average at best.
BIGDen
08-20-2011, 11:49 AM
But when you factor in they added some nice pieces to their DL, the continued maturation process of Nicks and Manningham and improved play by Eli Manning, they could easily be better than last year.

Do you think they'll actually be better than 10-6? I see them having fewer wins.
urface59
08-20-2011, 11:50 AM
Giants are gonna have a down year I think