About The UFL

The UFL was developed to fulfill the needs of football fans in major markets currently under-served by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players.  The UFL will serve its communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide.  The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience.  UFL offices are located in New York, N.Y. and Jacksonville, Fla.  The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is funded by a consortium of private investors.  For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the 2010 UFL season, please visit www.ufl-football.com.

UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE BRINGS PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TO SACRAMENTO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SACRAMENTO, CA – Wednesday, March 3 – The City of Sacramento will become home to the United Football League and its California franchise when the league’s second season kicks off in the fall of 2010.

The team, which played two home games in San Francisco and one in San Jose as the California Redwoods during the 2009 UFL Premiere season, will relocate to Sacramento for all five 2010 UFL home games, giving local football fans a team they can call their own.

Led by Head Coach and General Manager Dennis Green, the team will play at Hornet Stadium at Sacramento State when the new season kicks off in September.

The UFL is inviting football fans to suggest their favorite name for the Sacramento team and announced a ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your Name – You Make The Call’ promotion being run in association with Northern California’s Sports Station KHTK 1140 AM.  Fans can visit the official league website www.UFL-Football.com to take part in the naming contest.

United Football League Commissioner Michael Huyghue, team owner Paul Pelosi and Head Coach and General Manager Dennis Green were formally welcomed to the California state capital by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson at a press conference at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento on Wednesday.

“Sacramento is a natural home for the UFL in that it is a major market that we believe will support a professional football team and we are excited to be here,” said UFL Commissioner Huyghue.  “We are bringing sports fans in the area an exciting and high-quality product on the field at an affordable price and hope they will embrace the team who will become a part of the local community.”

Team owner Paul Pelosi, said: “I was born and raised in Northern California and for the last quarter century have built strong personal and business relationships in Sacramento.  I am excited for the opportunity to bring professional football to Sacramento and we look forward to being part of the community and appealing to sports fans in the area.”

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson added: “Welcoming a professional sports team to the city also means welcoming a positive focus for the local community.  Whether it comes in the form of economic impact, the creation of jobs or simply the buzz from your city’s team winning football games, the opportunity to have a Sacramento franchise in the United Football League is an exciting proposition. I personally look forward to seeing the team in action at Hornet Stadium.”

As the California Redwoods, the relocated team posted a 2-4 record during the inaugural 2009 UFL season and running back Cory Ross led the league in rushing with 462 yards.

“I am excited that the team will be able to call the city of Sacramento home,” said Head Coach Dennis Green.  “When I coached in Northern California I won a Super Bowl ring during my time with the San Francisco 49ers and I hope to bring championship success to the people of Sacramento and the fans of the team.”

Sacramento State President Alex Gonzalez said: “We are pleased to welcome the United Football League to our campus, and we are already seeing the benefits of our partnership.  Thanks to the UFL, we are installing a new playing surface at Hornet Stadium without using state General Fund money.  The field will allow Sacramento State to use the stadium for additional academic and student activities, as well as give us the opportunity to use it for other regional sporting events.”

Football fans eager to learn about ticket information for UFL games in Sacramento can call an information hotline: 916-233-4870.  Messages can also be left regarding partner and sponsorship opportunities, player personnel, future staffing, media relations and general inquiries.

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Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

About The UFL:

The UFL was developed to fulfill the unmet needs of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players.  The UFL will serve the communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide.  The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience.  The United Football League debuted in October 2009 with four teams in Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and San Francisco for its “Premiere” season.  The UFL offices are in New York, N.Y. and Jacksonville, Fla. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is being funded by a consortium of private investors.  For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the 2010 UFL season, please visit www.ufl-football.com.

UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE JOINS TRIBUNE COMPANY TO INVITE CONNECTICUT FOOTBALL FANS TO SUGGEST THEIR FAVORITE NAME FOR THE UFL HARTFORD TEAM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – HARTFORD, CT – Tuesday, February 23 - The United Football League, in association with Tribune companies FOX 61 News, the Hartford Courant and CTNow.com, is inviting football fans in the state of Connecticut to suggest their favorite name for the new professional football team that will play in Hartford when the 2010 UFL season kicks off.

Suggestions for team names began pouring into the mailboxes and websites of the Hartford Courant and UFL-Football.com following the announcement on February 16 that the Hartford UFL team will play five home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford this fall.

“We want to empower the fans of this new Hartford United Football League team to give us their thoughts on the name that they feel has a strong local connection and that they will be proud to chant from the stands at Rentschler Field,” said UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue.

FOX 61 kicked off the naming process on Tuesday, February 23 when ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your Name – You Make The Call’ promotional spots ran, inviting football fans to visit CTNow.com to start voting for their preferred choice of team names from a shortlist of four options or to suggest a different name:

·       Hartford Knights

·       Hartford Guardians

·       Hartford Travelers

·       Connecticut Yankees

Fans of the new team can cast their vote by visiting the www.CTNow.com website between now and Thursday, March 4.

The Hartford United Football League team name will be announced on Fox 61Comcast Sports Desk on Sunday, March 7 at 10.45pm.

Three randomly drawn entrants who suggest the name that is chosen will become the inaugural “UFL Foundation Fans” and will receive four suite passes, four on-field pre-game passes, a meet and greet with the head coach during the on-field experience and recognition of their participation in the promotion during a Hartford team home game.

The Harford team will be led by Head Coach and General Manager Chris Palmer, who played football at Immaculate High School in Danbury and was a quarterback at Southern Connecticut State University before a successful spell coaching at the University of New Haven from 1986-87, posting consecutive 8-2 records.  Most recently, Palmer tutored Eli Manning with the New York Giants from 2007 to 2009 and ultimately won a Super Bowl XLII ring when the Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 in Glendale, Arizona.

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Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

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February 7th, 2010 Top Stories

Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice are frontrunners for the 2010 Hall of Fame. NFL.COM

February 5th, 2010  Top Stories

Smith: NFL to get $5B without playing

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The question to DeMaurice Smith was simple, coming from Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco, asking how serious he viewed the possibility of football not being played in 2011.

Smith did not hesitate.

“On a scale of 1 to 10,” Smith said Thursday, “it’s a 14.”

With that, the executive director of the NFL Players Association painted perhaps the bleakest picture yet regarding prospects of labor strife in the league, which could be looking at a 2010 season with no salary cap and, if the collective bargaining agreement expires as scheduled in March 2011, a lockout that year.

Click here for the rest of the article at ESPN.com

So long, San Diego: Tomlinson

believes Chargers will release him

LaDainian Tomlinson told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday what most people have speculated for months: He will not be a San Diego Charger next season.

“I’m not coming back,” said Tomlinson, who added that he believes the Chargers will release him. “… I’ve accepted it.”

Tomlinson is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, but he just finished the least productive season of his nine-year NFL career (730 yards on 223 carries). Last offseason, the 2006 NFL MVP agreed to restructure the final three years of his contract and take a pay cut, but he told a San Diego radio station Monday that he won’t do that again.

Tomlinson has two years remaining on his contract, and he is due a $2 million roster bonus March 5. He would be paid $5 million in total salary in 2010

Click here for the rest of the article at NFL.com

Game Information

• Date:  February 7, 2010
• Time: 6PM
• Location: Miami, Florida
• TV Network: CBS
• BetUS.com Spread: Colts -5 1/2
  Over/Under 57 Points

Editors Note:  Just to gloat a bit, ProFootballInsight’s Kurt Fraschetti nailed last years points spread winner.  Click here to view the article.

Tale of the Tape

Regular Season Statistics   Colts                                                            Saints

Record                                       14-2                                                                 13-3

PF                                                   416                                                                  510

PA                                                   307                                                                 341

TD                                                   53                                                                    64

YPG                                           363.1 (9th)                                                  403.8 (1st)

Passing YPG                       282.2 (2nd)                                                272.4 (4th)

Rushing YPG                      80.9 (last)                                                    131.6 (6th)

Game Insight

For the Saints to be successful on Super Bowl Sunday, they will have to devise a game plan to completely throw Peyton Manning off!  This is what the entire NFL tried to do all of the regular season, which occurred with little or no success.  Your initial thought would be to play “keep away” with Peyton and dominate the ball with your offense and kill the game clock, winning the time of possession war.  Sounds good in theory, but remember Week 2 of the regular season. The Miami Dolphins absolutely dominated the time of possession war, as they had the ball offensively 45:07 minutes out the 60 minutes in a NFL game!  With only having the ball in his hands less than 15 minutes, Peyton Manning still had 303 yards and 2 TD’s.  So this theory was tried and failed.  The simple fact of the matter is, regardless how great the Saints offense plays, if Peyton Manning is not having an “off” day, or you do not rattle him, he has the composure and the skill set to find the way to victory, as he has shown all season long.

It is remarkable that the Colts appear to be the same exact team they were a year ago, two years ago, and so on and so on even with the loss of Tony Dungy.  Jim Caldwell, the Colts head coach is currently 16-2 as a NFL head coach, and those two losses can be attributed to his decision to sit his starters at the end of the regular season.  The Colts also have the bonus of playing the Super Bowl in the same location that they did in 2005, which resulted in a victory.  The experience of not only being battle tested with nearly half of their team playing on that Super Bowl winning team, but having the comfort factor of this experience not being new should allow the Colts to focus more on the game and the Saints, versus all of the new sights and sounds and experiences, which are all new to the Saints.

As far as the Colts defense is concerned, they have played solid football throughout the year.  Although they did not face an offense with the firepower that the Saints bring to the table this year, they did bottle up the Cardinals to 10 points in Week 3, and held the Texans to 17 points in Week 9.  Their worst defensive performance where they did not rest starters came in Week 10, where they allowed 34 points to the New England Patriots, which still resulted in a victory for the Colts, barely!

On the other side, the Saints boast the leagues most explosive offense, and have a solid defense as well.  Their offense made teams with defenses that are considered to be elite, look mediocre.  In Week 2, the Saints dropped 48 on the Eagles, four weeks later they dumped another 48 points on the Giants, and followed up the following week by pouring 46 points all over the Dolphins.  Week 12 led to a 38 to 17 point dismantling of the New England Patriots, which the Patriots games are a great measuring stick for both Super Bowl teams.

I feel that both teams are evenly matched, and this on paper lays out nicely for a great Super Bowl.  As I started off with, the one difference maker on both teams that can win or lose the game is Peyton Manning.  This is not to downplay Drew Brees in any way.  Over the past four years, Brees is the statistical leader among all NFL Quarterbacks, and if the Saints were playing any other team, Brees would be that X-Factor.  The difference between the two is the weapons surrounding each quarterback.  Drew Brees has more gifted athletes around him than he knows what to do with.  If the Saints want to pound the ball on the ground, they can.  If they want to light you up through the air for 400 plus yards, they can.  The Saints can kill you offensively on so many different levels and from every direction.  On the other hand, Peyton Manning has abused defenses without any running game to speak of at all.  He has Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark in his arsenal, period.  Peyton has had to develop receivers that 98 percent of American households have never heard of, ever!  With the loss of Anthony Gonzalez for nearly all of the season, and the departure of Marvin Harrision, names like Pierre Garson and Austin Collie surfaced.  The Colts offense with anyone other than Peyton this year would not be effective.  The Saints offense minus Drew Brees still has firepower.

With all of that said, I feel strongly that the Saints will cover the spread.  I am more confident in their covering the spread than predicting the winner, or the over/ under.  Speaking of the over / under, I see the under hitting, and if I was forced into a game winner, I cannot bet against Peyton Manning finding and willing the Colts to victory.  These predictions are based on both teams controlling their locker rooms and players heading into the week before the Super Bowl.  Any ill advised arrests, bulletin board material, assaults or team disciplinary actions taken against players can and will alter the way in which I see the games outcome.

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Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

The GIANTS have hired Perry Fewell to lead their defense. Recently the interim head coach of the Buffalo Bills, formerly the defensive coordinator there and the defensive backs coach in Chicago and Jacksonville. Although there were reports to the contrary, Fewell was the first and only interview the Giants conducted. They got their man!

I like the hire on many levels. First, he is a younger guy at 47, and has worked for Tom Coughlin before. Second, he is a “players coach” which will reopen the lines of communication shattered by Bill Sheridan. The former D.C. didn’t even want to be on the sidelines during games, opting to communicate through assistants, in lieu of speaking to the players first hand. Thirdly and finally, Fewell has a system, but is not afraid to adjust during the week or in game. The stubbornness of some coordinators is legendary. In this day of the NFL, when every play is on tape and available to everyone, flexibility is key. Fewell is known as a cover 2 guy, but is not afraid to play a bear front, play man under, or even send the bonzai blitz when it is warranted and most decidedly unexpected. He demands accountability on every play, and his motto is “If you don’t play within the scheme of the defense….You Don’t Play. He has the necessary attention to detail, and is young enough to still have the drive to succeed and improve.

He will still need to find a defensive line coach, but that will most likely come after the playoffs have finished, opening up the opportunity to speak with all available coaches.

There also was a crazy rumor out last week that Bill Cowher wants the GIANTS job. If he wants it WHEN it is available, that would be welcome. The Mara’s and Rooney’s are old friends and operate much in the same mold. Cowher would be successful, and a welcome addition to any Giants team. The problem is the job is taken. Tom Coughlin,62, is under contract for 2 more years. He either gets this team back to the top next year and gets an extension, or he retires and the GIANTS get the to be in the enviable position of picking between Cowher, Gruden,and most likely John Fox. A win, win for all parties involved.
GIANTS draft #15 this year. A great spot to move up from, or to get your guy.

I will preview the draft in April.

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Enjoy the playoffs and Super Bowl…..see you in April

Joe Tufaro / Giants Contributor to ProFootballinsight.net

http://nygblogjt.blogspot.com

Photo Credit-Associated Press

* Eagles-Cowboys Date: Sunday, January 3
* Eagles-Cowboys Kickoff Time: 4:15
* Eagles-Cowboys TV Network: FOX
* Eagles-Cowboys Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
* Eagles-Cowboys Point Spread: Cowboys -3
* Eagles-Cowboys Over-Under Odds: 48

Nick Sellers Dallas Cowboys Analysis and Predictions

The Cowboys are masters of their own destinies on Sunday. If they beat the Philadelphia Eagles at home, they can win the division, having previously beaten the Eagles earlier this year, and boost their seeding for their ensuing playoff run. But if you’re a ‘Boys fan, you are most certainly wary. This feels too good. Visions of the Seattle debacle and the dismantling at the hands of these Eagles last year are clouding your vision. You might not have yet recovered from the massive coronary you suffered two Sundays ago when it appeared the Cowboys were flushing their biggest win in years down the toilet (and it came against the Saints…how weird is this NFL year?).  But still your beating heart, we have signs of life from these ‘09 Cowboys.

Tony Romo is coming into his own. Remember the press conference two weeks ago immediately following his torching of the Saints secondary? He seemed…confident. Really? Tony Romo, Confident? There were no chuckles about regrouping and getting after it next week, no sheepish grins about the INT he threw into the waiting arms of a defender (because there wasn’t one that game), and in fact I don’t think he smiled once during the press conference. For all intents and purposes, he’s been a stone cold killer since the start of the month. You have to admit, if he lays an egg on Sunday, you’ll be disappointed. When was the last time you didn’t expect mediocrity from the quarterback position in Dallas? 8 years? 10 years?

While the play of the defense has not quite equaled the play of Romo and the offense, they’ve been more than capable. The past two weeks, they’ve consistently pressured the quarterback and the coverage down field has been solid. They’re playing as a unit, they’re playing for each other. Mike Jenkins has been outstanding in the secondary, and was even getting some Pro Bowl buzz (but perhaps, too little too late). Keith Brooking is an emerging leader in the middle of the defense. The clip NBC showed during the broadcast of the Redskins game on Sunday gave me goosebumps. I half expected them to do the chant from 300, a la the Saints and Brees a couple years ago. A Cowboys team with emotion? Did they dress up actors in Cowboys uniforms and make them appear fired up? Nope, that’s definitely Keith Brooking! Perhaps they won’t roll over and die in the playoffs this year.

Generalizations aside, the Cowboys are going to have to have another solid performance come kickoff on Sunday at 4:15. The Eagles are 7th in total defense, and a good performance from Romo is essential, although it would appear that he seems to have found the correct balance between hanging tough in the pocket and escaping said pocket and making plays with his legs.

The defense really only has one threat to deal with from the Eagles’ offense and that comes in the form of DeSean Jackson, who has already eclipsed 1000 yards receiving this year, not withstanding his extraordinary special teams play. While McNabb isn’t quite what he used to be, if he finds Jackson in some space, I’ll be preemptively chucking my remote at the wall. There’s no catching him once he gets some room, and the Cowboys’ safeties will have to help out their corners when Philadelphia puts Jackson in the slot.

More important than individual match-ups, is that the Cowboys win on Sunday, and that they do so in convincing fashion. This needs to be a statement game for the franchise. They’re cresting at the right time, and if they keep this up, they have a solid chance at making a run at the NFC title, and to do so would be uncharacteristic of their recent trend: a mediocre regular season coupled with an inkling of hope, and then, at the moment of truth, they disappear. If they continue their current level of play, they can make that statement that Cowboys fans’ hearts have been burning for. With that said, Cowboys by 3. Happy New Year.

Additional Predictions

Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight- I am going in a different direction than that of Jerod and Nick.  I am not necessarily chalking this up as an Eagles win, but I do see them covering.  Their offense is so dynamic on so many different levels.  This is necessary as their defense is no where near as strong as the normal Philly Defense we have become used to over the years.  Dallas, with  a stronger defense out of the two, seems to have just enough offense to win games.  I have no faith in Wade Phillips as a coach and am taking the Eagles +3.

Jerod Morris / MidwestSportsFans- This is a very fair spread, all things considered. The Cowboys get the home field edge. When you further consider that they beat the Eagles in Philly, and have played very well for two straight weeks, I’m a little surprised Dallas isn’t favored by more. There is no question that this Cowboys team is different than the teams that failed in December for the rest of this decade. The Cowboys are a legit darkhorse Super Bowl candidate now. At home, I think they exorcise some demons from last year and beat the winning-but-inconsistent Eagles. Eagles-Cowboys free pick: Cowboys -3

Play Playoff Fantasy Football for free with NFL.COM and ProFootballinsight.net, win great prizes!

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Nick Sellers / ProFootballinsight.net

**Photo Credit-nflgridirongab.com

Do you miss fantasy football yet?  Did you come out on top this season, or are you looking for redemption?  Play NFL.COM’s Playoff Fantasy Football with the Staff and readers of ProFootballinsight.net.

Not only is this yet another forum to show off your fantasy football skills, but you can win these great prizes as well including a trip to the 2011 Super Bowl;

Prizes:

(1) Grand Prize: A four (4) day/three (3) night trip for winner and one (1) guest to attend Super Bowl XLV, scheduled to take place in 2011 in North Texas . Trip includes round trip coach air transportation from a major U.S. gateway airport nearest winner’s residence in the U.S. to a destination determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, one (1) standard double occupancy hotel accommodation (one (1) room) for three (3) nights, round trip ground transportation to and from the game, two (2) tickets to Super Bowl XLV, two (2) tickets to the NFL Tailgate Party and admission at a football clinic. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) = $8,150. Actual value may vary based upon location of winner’s residence. If winner resides within a 100-mile radius of destination, ground transportation may be provided in lieu of air transportation, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, and no compensation or substitution will be provided for difference in prize value. Exact dates, times, duration, activities (if any) and/or locations of the tailgate party and clinic are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Trip must be taken on date(s) designated by Sponsor or prize will be forfeited in its entirety and, at Sponsor’s discretion, awarded to runner up. Travel and accommodation restrictions and other restrictions may apply. Winner and his/her guest must travel together on same itinerary and are responsible for obtaining all required travel documents. All travel arrangements must be made through travel agent of Sponsor’s selection on a carrier of Sponsor’s choice. Released Parties are not responsible for travel delays or cancellations. In the event the game is postponed, trip will be rescheduled. In the event the game is postponed and not rescheduled, the tailgate party and football clinic will be cancelled and no compensation or substitution for such portion of the prize will be provided; however, the remainder of prize package (minus tickets to the game, tailgate party and football clinic) will be awarded and Sponsor will have no further obligation to winner. In the event any event or activity is cancelled and not rescheduled during the trip dates, no compensation or substitution for such portion of the prize will be provided; however, the remainder of prize package will be awarded and Sponsor will have no further obligation to winner. Seat locations will be determined by Sponsor. Winner and guest must comply with all venue rules and regulations. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of such portion(s) of the prize and removal from game/event/activity. Released Parties reserve the right to remove or to deny attendance to winner and/or guest who engages in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person at the game or any event. The tickets are subject to the terms and conditions thereon. Unused tickets cannot be refunded, exchanged or applied towards tickets for any subsequent years. If unused, game tickets cannot be returned, refunded or exchanged for cash value or substitute tickets.

(5) First Prizes: $100 NFLShop.com Gift Card.

(5) Second Prizes: $50 NFLShop.com Gift Card.

Terms and conditions on gift cards may apply, as specified by NFLShop.com. All prizes are awarded “as is” without any warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by Sponsor. Costs and expenses associated with the acceptance and use of prizes not specified herein as being awarded, including, but not limited to, federal, state and local taxes, (and, if Grand Prize winner, food, luggage fees, additional transportation, beverages and miscellaneous travel expenses) are each winner’s sole responsibility. All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Total ARV of all prizes = $8,900. No transfer, assignment, cash redemption, or substitution of a prize (or portion thereof) is permitted, except by Sponsor who reserves the right to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) of comparable or greater value as determined by Sponsor.

To get to the website for the league registration, click here!

To get to the registration page, click here!

The league name is profootballinsight, all lower case letters.

The password is pfi, all lower case as well.

The homepage for the league comes well equipped with a smack board, talk your team up, or blast your opponents!

Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@ProFootballinsight.net

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New Giants Stadium

The Giants have gotten back to basics in the past few weeks. They have started pulling more linemen in the running game, and using the play action to get the ball to their young receiving corp for big plays. The Giants during their recent slump had relied more on the running backs to find the hole or create the hole to run through, Tom Coughlin wanted to put the power back into the power running game and made the necessary changes. They now have 5 tight ends on the roster, bringing in a little youth and enthusiasm, and lining up in more double tight end formations than they had previously. With Brandon Jacobs, two tight ends, and Madison Hedgecock at fullback, the running game has returned, making defenses fill the box with linebackers and safeties. Eli Manning has been tremendous the past three weeks checking into weak side runs, and using play action to freeze those line backers and safeties and completing a high percentage of passes for nice gains to keep the chains moving. As has always been said about Giants football, you run the ball first to be successful, but you need balance to keep teams honest. The Giants seem to have found that balance in recent weeks, and have started their push toward the playoffs.

Tom Coughlin has told this team they are now in a single elimination tournament. Although mathematically the Giants could lose a game and still qualify for the playoffs, they prefer to view it as the playoffs beginning last Monday night in Washington. They have challenged themselves from that point to win every game. Their belief is that they are in the same position as they were in their Super Bowl season of 2007. They need to win 6 more games. Very simple. Win 6 more games and you will be World Champions. Keeping the focus on one game at a time, win or go home, helps keep the urgency and the concentration at the highest level possible.

The Giants will end their run at the current Giants Stadium after 34 years. They plan on celebrating at halftime by bringing back the most beloved, most feared, and best defensive player to ever play in the NFL. The Original and only LT. Hall of Fame line backer Lawrence Taylor will be celebrated at halftime. The tears and goose bumps will be many as the Giants show a video tribute to the great players and great teams that called the stadium home. Many of the former players will be on the sidelines that day, a fitting tribute to a great place to watch football. I personally have many great memories of the stadium, ranging from George Martin returning an Elway interception in 1986 to the NFC Championship game against the Vikings in 2000.

The Giants have hosted two NFC championships in the great building, shutting out both the Redskins (17-0) and the Vikings (41-0). We were also lucky to see the entire careers of men like L.T. and Phil Simms play out in front of us. Phil Simms always said the advantage he had over visiting quarterbacks was he knew he was going to have a bad day, they had to learn the hard way. The wind and the defense gave us a distinct home field advantage, and no doubt it will continue in the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Game Info and Predictions

Carolina Panthers at New York Giants

• Panthers-Giants Date: Sunday, December 27
• Panthers-Giants Kickoff Time: 1:00
• Panthers-Giants TV Network: FOX
• Panthers-Giants Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Panthers-Giants Point Spread: Giants -6.5
• Panthers-Giants Over-Under Odds: 42.5

Kurt Fraschetti- As good as the Panthers looked last week while beating down the Vikings, I feel that there are too many factors stacked in the Giants favor this Sunday.  I am taking the Giants – 6 1/2.

Jerod Morris-MidwestSportsfans.com-Wow, the Giants looked good on Monday night, didn’t they? It is certainly tempting to an expect a similar performance this week, but I don’t totally trust their defense yet. Washington played horribly and I’m not sure that we got a true reading on a Giants team that has really struggled the second half of this season. I think New York will win, but Carolina runs the ball well enough and can contain Eli Manning enough to keep this one close. Panthers-Giants free pick: Panthers +6.5

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Joe Tufaro / ProFootballinsight

The history of the NFC East has been one of tough physical teams, and some of the top coaches in the history of the league. This tradition may continue with the hiring of two very successful coaches in the near future.

Tom Landry, Bill Parcells, Joe Gibbs, Dick Vermeil, Jimmy Johnson, Dan Reeves, Tom Coughlin, and Andy Reid are just some of the great coaching names associated with the NFC East. A division that has never been dominated by any one team for more than a two or three year period, and one that has always been favored to send two or even three teams to the NFL playoffs. With the jobs in Dallas and Washington most likely opening up this year the names of Mike Shannahan and John Gruden have surfaced as possible replacements. My opinion has always been that John Gruden would be a perfect fit in Washington, and Shannahan would be the guy to coach Tony Romo in Dallas.

Washington will be the first to hire a new coach. The inner circle in Washington does not care for Zorn. Stripping him earlier this year of play calling duties, they have hired a new G.M. this week and have already started speaking with coaching replacements, even though Zorn still officially holds the job. I can’t see Shannahan signing quickly with Washington knowing that the Cowboys might also be in the market for a new coach. Forget about weighing which team is more settled or closer to being good, just the thought of getting a bidding war started between Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder would make anyone’s mouth water. The numbers could be astronomical. Shannahan is still owed close to 9 million by Denver, and will be paid until he signs on with a new team, so there is no reason to rush into any decisions on his part.

While it has been widely reported that John Gruden signed an “exclusive” deal with ESPN earlier this year, that only pertains to his broadcasting career. He has done a good job on Monday Night Football, and ESPN didn’t want to get into a bidding war for his services and more importantly didn’t want him doing the draft coverage in April for the NFL Network, where he got his start in broadcasting. It has nothing to do with his ability to go back into coaching in the NFL. Gruden is an offensive guru and would thrive in Washington where the defense is already in place. He has always been able to do more with less, and would be a success in Washington.

From the view of the Giants fan, this certainly is not great news. Adding two elite coaches to one team that has all the talent necessary in Dallas, and one to a team with a strong defense in Washington, will only solidify this division as the strongest in the NFL. The ray of sunshine is the little known fact that John Gruden is 0-5 coaching against Tom Coughlin.

It should be an interesting next few weeks and off season, and could be a great decade of football to come in the NFC East.

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Joe Tufaro / ProFootballinsight

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The San Francisco 49ers come into the game off of an impressive victory on Monday night over the division leading Arizona Cardinals and a very slim shot of still making the playoffs. The 49ers (6-7) have a tendency to play up to their competition, as evidenced by their sweep of the Cardinals this year.  Then they also play down to their competition, losing to the Seahawks and the one win, at the time, Titans.

What is expected of the Eagles is another easy victory, in traditionally the month that they play their best football.   But, what is expected in the NFL doesn’t always occur.  I’m going to tell you a few reasons why the Eagles could be in trouble this week and into the playoffs.

The news of Alex Smith returning to starting quarterback for the Niners along with Michael Crabtree’s impressive debut, sometimes the most impressive part of the Niners gets overlooked.  Make no mistake, the defense is what holds this team together.  Patrick Willis has turned into one of the best linebackers in football and the Niners as a team are plus 6 in turnover differential this year, which would be much higher if their quarterbacks didn’t throw so many interceptions at the beginning of the year.  They have the 8th ranked scoring defense giving up just over 20 pts per game.  When they’re on their game they can make great offenses seem ordinary.

The Eagles are coming off an emotional victory on Sunday night over the Giants, and for good teams after an important victory like that, there’s almost always a letdown of some sort.  Especially, over a team the Eagles so despise as the New York Giants.  Philadelphia has great offensive minds in Andy Reid and Marty Morningwig who set the offense up to be explosive. Now, they also have explosive players on the outside who can make it happen.  DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant have lived on the big play this year.  Tight End Brent Celek leads the team in receptions. LeSean McCoy has filled in admirably for an ailing Brian Westbrook who may or may not return.  The team can score from any position on the field at any time.  Not many teams can say that.

Look deeper though and we can see some deficiencies on the offensive side of the ball.  The offensive line is finally coming together the last few weeks after struggling earlier in the year.  Who knows if that will continue especially if stud defensive tackle for the Niners, Aubrayo Franklin collapses the pocket like he’s done all year.

Far too often the Reid and Morningwig abandon the running game early in the game.  Too many times McNabb finishes the game with 40 or 50 attempts passing, when the running backs are averaging over four yards a carry.  I don’t know their reason and don’t even know if they realize they are not running the ball.  This has become a complaint of many Eagles fans the past few years, and when the Eagles lose that’s usually the reason.  If the Eagles go down early to the Niners will the team continue to run the ball or become one dimensional?  If they become one dimensional it will allow the Niners defense to take more chances and maybe force more turnovers.
The Eagles dismal display of scoring touchdowns in the redzone this year has been well documented.  Many people see the use of Michael Vick the past few games to run the ball inside the 5-yard line as an ode to the play calling genius of the coaches.  I see it as desperation, plain and simple.  The Eagles coaches are scared if they are in a normal offensive set with a fullback and halfback that they don’t have the ability to push the ball in the endzone.  Therefore, throughout the season and even more recently they’ve resorted to gimmicks, play action passes and even screens to try and score when inside of the opponent’s 10-yard line.  Watching them, the past few weeks they haven’t even tried to muscle the ball into the endzone, they’ve had to rely on Donovan McNabb to make a play or Mike Vick in the wildcat formation.   Their first instinct is gimmick rather than muscling up and bullying the ball into the endzone.  That’s a problem come playoff time.

The defensive display the Eagles put on Sunday night against the Giants probably had many Eagles fans scratching their heads and hoping Reggie White, Jerome Brown and heck even Mike Golic could still suit up for them. The secondary could not and didn’t want to tackle, the line couldn’t get pressure on Eli Manning and the linebackers looked out of position far too often.

This has been a recurring theme this season for an Eagles defense that many thought would easily get over the loss of Pro Bowler and inspirational leader Brian Dawkins in the off-season. The loss of Brian Dawkins has elevated safety Quintin Mikell to team leader of the secondary.  Truthfully, I’m sure he’s a great guy but he’s just cutting it this season on the field.  He had a good enough year last year to make the Eagles feel comfortable in allowing Dawkins to leave but this year he’s not tackling, he’s out of position and receivers are far too often running behind him when he’s the last line of defense.
Asante Samuel may very well end up being a Pro Bowl corner this year, and is one of the better cover corners in the NFL, but he doesn’t know how to tackle, and that’s not usually a problem with your corner, but too many times this year he’s been in man-to-man coverage without any safety help and he hasn’t made the tackle after the receiver catches the ball and that’s allowed the receiver to run for an extra 20 to 30 yards.  If he’s matched up with Crabtree on Sunday watch for the Niners to exploit that because Crabtree is a bigger, more physical receiver who has no problem running through arm tackles.

The linebackers this year have gone through many chances, starting with the loss of Stewart Bradley in training camp, who coaches thought would have a Pro Bowl year this year.  The Eagles have tried at least 7 different players this season at middle linebacker and are currently going with 87 year old Jeremiah Trotter in the middle as the catalyst for their defense. That is a problem.  Hey, I love Trotter, but that was in 2004 when he was on the cusp of being old.  Now, 5 years later he’s still playing but not producing as well, which is expected.

Will Witherspoon, who was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Rams has been a good surprise but still has his problems in coverage.  The run defense has allowed huge chunks of yards this year, don’t be surprised if Niners running back Frank Gore gashes the Eagles defense for 10 and 20 yard gains, especially if he’s running through a secondary that can’t tackle and doesn’t want to tackle.
The Eagles defense just doesn’t have that swagger it had last year with Dawkins as its leader. I’m not saying players aren’t trying as hard as they did last year or aren’t working as hard in preparation. But, something’s missing. A ferociousness, a fierceness that they’ve played with on defense the last 20 years just isn’t there this year. Opponents used to come to Philadelphia and know that they might not be able to walk out of that stadium because of the Eagles defense.  It’s almost as if, they’re comfortable with the fact that the offense will score when they touch the ball, and all they have to do is make a few stops. That may work in the regular season and even win you a division title because the offense is so explosive, but come the postseason when every possession is crucial, it’s not going to work.

Game Information

• 49ers-Eagles Date: Sunday, December 20
• 49ers-Eagles Kickoff Time: 1:00
• 49ers-Eagles TV Network: FOX
• 49ers-Eagles Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
• 49ers-Eagles Point Spread: Eagles -9
• 49ers-Eagles Over-Under Odds: 43.5

Predictions

Sean Coleman- I’m not saying the Eagles are a bad team. I’m saying that for everyone who watched the game on Sunday night against the Giants and saw an explosive unstoppable offense and an impressive victory, I saw what was beneath that.  I saw problems and deficiencies that unless they correct will lead to their ouster in the playoffs and maybe allow an upstart Niners team with a shot at making the playoffs to come through in a big way on Sunday. For that reason I’m taking Niners +9

Kurt Fraschetti- I find that the 49ers defense is playing out of their minds for arguably one of the games greatest middle linebackers ever in Mike Singletary.  I do not have as much faith in the 49ers offense as Sean does, but I do have faith in their defense to not allow this game to reach double digits.  So with that said, I like the 49ers +9.

Jerod Morris-MidwestSportsFans.com- The Eagles are going to score their fair share of points against a San Francisco defense that has not been great against the pass this year (Monday night – at home – notwithstanding). However, the Eagles have also been susceptible to big plays through the air this year and have given up 20+ TD passes. I think Philly will win this game since they are at home, but the 49ers have some momentum coming off of Monday night and still have not been eliminated from playoff contention yet. Eagles win but don’t cover. 49ers-Eagles free pick: 49ers +9

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Sean Coleman / ProFootballinsight

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