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Cowboy-filled Pro Bowl roster still bothers Giants
BY RALPH VACCHIANO
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Even after the rings, the parade and all the attention that has come their way after their remarkable Super Bowl run, the Giants still feel like the "all-Joes".
Remember, that's what Antonio Pierce called their divisional playoff game against the star-studded Dallas Cowboys last January - "an All-Pro team vs. an all-Joe team." The Giants were stinging from what turned out to be 13 Cowboys being named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad last year, compared to just one Giant (Osi Umenyiora).
Nine months and one championship later, there's no doubt that snub still stings.
"We will bothered by that for a long time," defensive end Justin Tuck said Thursday. "It ain't Dallas' fault. It's not like they voted for themselves. We just felt like we should've had some, too."
"They have a lot of star power on their team. Our hats off to them for that," added Pierce. "But at the end of the day, do you want the star power, or do you want the jewelry?"
The Super Bowl rings, of course, were the perfect revenge for the Jersey Joes, but even that hasn't been enough to get them completely out of Dallas' shadow. They spent the offseason listening to expert after expert pick the Cowboys to win the division, the conference or maybe the whole thing. And several Giants have brought up last year's Pro Bowl tally this week.
But the Giants are the NFC-leading 6-1 team, while the Cowboys are limping in to Giants Stadium at 4-3 without their starting quarterback and several other Pro Bowlers and sensing their opportunity to stay in the NFC East race slipping away. It would mean a lot to the Giants to bury their nemesis on Sunday, especially with the Pro Bowl voting already underway.
"I've got a feeling that this year things could change," said defensive tackle Barry Cofield. "We've just been getting a lot more recognition and lot more people on the bandwagon. I think people are paying a little bit more attention to how talented a lot of the guys we have around here are. Hopefully they'll have that reputation and hopefully we'll get some more guys in Hawaii.
"But really all that matters is winning games. I'm sure if you ask all those guys from Dallas if they'd trade their Pro Bowl leis for a Super Bowl ring, they would."
True, but there are plenty of Giants who wouldn't mind adding a Pro Bowl lei to their collections. The Giants can argue that they have three defensive linemen who deserve some consideration - Tuck (six sacks), fellow defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (five) and tackle Fred Robbins (six). Guard Chris Snee will undoubtedly get some votes. And before this season is over, quarterback Eli Manning, receiver Plaxico Burress and maybe even kicker John Carney could be in the Pro Bowl mix, too.
However, not many of those players have the big-name recognition the Cowboys have.
"They're a sexy team," Pierce said. "They have players on their team that are very adorable to the fantasy football world and everybody else from a statistical standpoint. You've got the Hollywood stars. Jessica Simpson is coming to all their games. It's a good place to play."
It's just better to play for the defending champs, even if fewer people know who they are.
"We have names, it's just some people want to have bigger names, or they get more credit," Pierce said. "For us, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. I want some more hardware."
HANDS DOWN: Robbins returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday. The DT said he's nursing "bruises" on both of his hands, although he insisted there were no broken bones. ... LB Bryan Kehl (toe) was limited in practice. ... Tom Coughlin was noncommittal on whether rookie Terrell Thomas or veteran Sam Madison would be the nickel CB with Kevin Dockery (back) out. ... TE Jason Witten (ribs) and CB Terence Newman (hernia) missed practice for the Cowboys, but G Kyle Kosier (foot), CB Anthony Henry (thigh) and LB Anthony Spencer (hamstring) were back.
BY RALPH VACCHIANO
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Even after the rings, the parade and all the attention that has come their way after their remarkable Super Bowl run, the Giants still feel like the "all-Joes".
Remember, that's what Antonio Pierce called their divisional playoff game against the star-studded Dallas Cowboys last January - "an All-Pro team vs. an all-Joe team." The Giants were stinging from what turned out to be 13 Cowboys being named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad last year, compared to just one Giant (Osi Umenyiora).
Nine months and one championship later, there's no doubt that snub still stings.
"We will bothered by that for a long time," defensive end Justin Tuck said Thursday. "It ain't Dallas' fault. It's not like they voted for themselves. We just felt like we should've had some, too."
"They have a lot of star power on their team. Our hats off to them for that," added Pierce. "But at the end of the day, do you want the star power, or do you want the jewelry?"
The Super Bowl rings, of course, were the perfect revenge for the Jersey Joes, but even that hasn't been enough to get them completely out of Dallas' shadow. They spent the offseason listening to expert after expert pick the Cowboys to win the division, the conference or maybe the whole thing. And several Giants have brought up last year's Pro Bowl tally this week.
But the Giants are the NFC-leading 6-1 team, while the Cowboys are limping in to Giants Stadium at 4-3 without their starting quarterback and several other Pro Bowlers and sensing their opportunity to stay in the NFC East race slipping away. It would mean a lot to the Giants to bury their nemesis on Sunday, especially with the Pro Bowl voting already underway.
"I've got a feeling that this year things could change," said defensive tackle Barry Cofield. "We've just been getting a lot more recognition and lot more people on the bandwagon. I think people are paying a little bit more attention to how talented a lot of the guys we have around here are. Hopefully they'll have that reputation and hopefully we'll get some more guys in Hawaii.
"But really all that matters is winning games. I'm sure if you ask all those guys from Dallas if they'd trade their Pro Bowl leis for a Super Bowl ring, they would."
True, but there are plenty of Giants who wouldn't mind adding a Pro Bowl lei to their collections. The Giants can argue that they have three defensive linemen who deserve some consideration - Tuck (six sacks), fellow defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (five) and tackle Fred Robbins (six). Guard Chris Snee will undoubtedly get some votes. And before this season is over, quarterback Eli Manning, receiver Plaxico Burress and maybe even kicker John Carney could be in the Pro Bowl mix, too.
However, not many of those players have the big-name recognition the Cowboys have.
"They're a sexy team," Pierce said. "They have players on their team that are very adorable to the fantasy football world and everybody else from a statistical standpoint. You've got the Hollywood stars. Jessica Simpson is coming to all their games. It's a good place to play."
It's just better to play for the defending champs, even if fewer people know who they are.
"We have names, it's just some people want to have bigger names, or they get more credit," Pierce said. "For us, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. I want some more hardware."
HANDS DOWN: Robbins returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday. The DT said he's nursing "bruises" on both of his hands, although he insisted there were no broken bones. ... LB Bryan Kehl (toe) was limited in practice. ... Tom Coughlin was noncommittal on whether rookie Terrell Thomas or veteran Sam Madison would be the nickel CB with Kevin Dockery (back) out. ... TE Jason Witten (ribs) and CB Terence Newman (hernia) missed practice for the Cowboys, but G Kyle Kosier (foot), CB Anthony Henry (thigh) and LB Anthony Spencer (hamstring) were back.
