Giants vs Patriots (and the Same Ole Jets)

It all started with Victor Cruz. The New York Giants 2^nd season sensation took a short pass from Eli Manning and scampered some 95 yards for a touchdown. A play that seemed to propel the Giants into the position they currently sit in. For the Jets and their fans including me, well, let’s just say it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. The Giants won that game 29-14.

Fast forward a few weeks and, once again for the second time in four years, you have the Giants facing the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. For Jets fans, it doesn’t get more pathetic than that. Well, maybe it does actually. Wednesday’s Newark Star Ledger had a report indicating that Cruz was nearly cut twice by the Giants before becoming a breakout star this season. What prevented them from doing so was the Jets, of course, whom the Giants assumed wanted the Wide Receiver because of a dominating performance he had against them during a 2010 Pre-Season game. Yes, Giant fans, you can thank the Jets for that one.

Meanwhile, back in Jets land, the brutal off season fall out continues. Anonymous teammates say Quarterback Mark Sanchez, the G.Q. stud can’t win and that he’s babied, maybe even a little lazy. LaDainian Tomlinson, the future Hall of Famer took it a step further saying the 2011 Jets were one of the worst locker room environments he’s ever been a part of. There’s even word that Plaxico Burress wasn’t happy with his teammates this past season. I mean, Plaxico Burress, the gun toting convict? Who’s next, OJ Simpson? Their other star, Santonio Holmes actually quit on them during the last game of the season. Despite that, owner Woody Johnson says Holmes is still one of his favorite players.

So, on Sunday, I will sit back like most football fans and watch the game. I will witness Tom “God” Brady, the man who replaced Drew Blesdoe after Jet’s Line Backer Moe Lewis knocked Blesdoe out of a game in 2001 throw for multiple touchdown passes. I will watch Hakeem Nicks, the young Wide Receiver drafted to replace Burress catch passes from Eli Manning, the Quarterback from New York who wasn’t on that GQ cover.

I’m sure I will get aggravated watching the frumpy H-C of the NE-P, Bill Belichick staring down officials, possibly giving no thought to his decision years ago to step down as the H-C of the NY-J, some 12 hours after being promoted to the job. Five Super Bowl appearances later, maybe Belichick made the right choice after all.

But hey the current H-C of the NY-J wasn’t completely wrong at the beginning of the season. I mean, Ryan did predict that New York would get to the Super Bowl.  Maybe he meant the team in blue. Perhaps ole Rex is color blind.