DeSean Jackson will be franchised by the Eagles according to an NFL Source.

The Eagles are poised to designate DeSean Jackson as their franchise player according to an NFL Source. Jackson, the mercurial wide receiver who played last season in the final year of his rookie contract, would make $9.5 million in 2012 under the franchise tag. Placing the tag on Jackson though, does not guarantee the four-year wideout will be catching passes in midnight green next season.

The franchise tag gives the Eagles several options how to address Jackson’s free-agent year. The team could choose to keep him, or franchise him and then trade him. Or, the team could choose to work out a long term extension, keeping the 25 year old receiver in town for several years to come.

Jackson is reportedly seeking a five-year $50 million extension.

Because Jackson is not a traditional number one receiver, and his value his greatly enhanced by his ability to turn in game changing big plays and as a punt returner, it’s difficult to justify him receiving the franchise tag of $9.5 million. Franchise players are paid the average of the top five salaries at their position. Regardless of which direction the Eagles choose to go with Jackson, he will not hit the open market without the team being compensated in some fashion.

Should the Eagles choose to trade Jackson and add a veteran free agent receiver to replace him, the team would have several viable options. Marques Colston, Vincent Jackson, Wes Welker, Mario Manningham and Dwayne Bowe headline the class of potential wideouts that could hit the market this offseason.

In 2011 Jackson finished with 58 catches for 961 yards and four touchdowns after beginning the pre-season by holding out for a portion of training camp.

February 20th is the first day that teams can officially tag a franchise player.

Matt Lombardo is the Lead Writer for Taking It To The House. Matt is also a Producer for 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia. Matt can be reached on Twitter @MattLombardoPHL or by Email atMDLombardo@yahoo.com

In honor of Ricky Williams’ retirement, we have posted the footage from one of the better interviews with him called the “Yoga Master” featuring NFL Network interviewer Terrell Davis

On Tuesday February 7^th, one of the NFL’s most multifaceted players, both on and off the field, decided to call it a career.  Sure a lot people will say that Errick Lynne “Ricky” Williams is just temporarily stepping away from football again to pursue some other interest.  But this time many people around the National Football League believe that there will be no more “Run, Ricky, Run” on Sundays. 

And at the NFL running back ancient age of thirty-four years, you have to believe that professional football’s “Vagabond Warrior” has finally found the piece of mind, body, and soul to move on to the next phase of his life.  Strangely a career that started with him posing in a wedding dress with Saints former head coach Mike Ditka around the 1999 NFL Draft.  And took him as far away from the league as the Australian Outback and North of the border to play as an NFL suspended outcast playing in the CFL.  Then back to the heights of achieving the status of being the all-time leading rusher of the Miami Dolphins franchise.  Then quietly ending with the Baltimore Ravens issuing a statement from the NFL’s Dalai Lama himself.

 Williams wrote in the statement: “The NFL has been an amazing page in this chapter of my life.  I pray that all successive adventures offer me the same potential for growth, success and most importantly, fun. … As for what’s next, I am excited about all the opportunities ahead — continuing my education, running The Ricky Williams Foundation and whatever other opportunities present themselves.”

 Like one of his football heroes from a bygone era, former Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown, Williams decided that he would not be “married” to the game.  And that football would only be one part of his being, which brought about a myriad of emotions from fans, coaches, and media. The range of emotions included joy, frustration, and admiration.  He had the ability to be one of the games all-time best.  But at times in his career that spanned 13 years, Williams made it known that he didn’t “need” football.  Which had to frustrate a league and some head coaches that like to run their organizations in militaristic uniformity.

I have to chuckle when writing the word, “Uniformity”, in talking about Ricky Williams as nothing he did was common and will probably be never seen around the NFL again.  Think about it, at one point he was the games biggest martyr as he stepped away from a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract with the Dolphins, because he loved to smoke marijuana too much and also wanted to study holistic medicine.  But then like Lazarus, Williams returned to pro football with a vengeance to earn the respect of the same fans, coaches, and media that one-time branded him a “Quitter” by leading the NFL in rushing.

In his last game, the recently played 2012 AFC Championship game, I found myself rooting for Williams’ Ravens squad to make to the Super Bowl, because of the respect that I have for him.  Of course we know that the Patriots went on to win in a nail-biter, but Williams had already won much more than a game.  During the 2011 season, in what would be his last in the NFL, the former Heisman Winner, who had been labeled everything from a superstar to a bum, had found solace on a veteran laden team that allowed Ricky to be Ricky. 

Even though in the roster list showed a 34-year old back-up to Pro Bowl runner Ray Rice, Williams was able to become the unthinkable to some, a leader.  His contribution to the Raven went far and beyond his stats of 444 rushing yards and 2 TDs as he mentored Rice and showed the meaning of what it is to be a “Pro”. 

As his career was winding down, in a November interview – in the thralls of the Ravens’ playoff push – Williams ever being the warrior high priest reflected on playing in Baltimore.  “It’s been interesting,” he said. “It’s been an adjustment for me, but I love the organization and I love my teammates so I’m having a good time. I’m enjoying myself. Anytime you play a team sport, the success of the team really makes everything better. It’s nice.”

He lastly added, “I have to thank coach (John) Harbaugh and the Ravens organization for the opportunity they gave me this year. I had so much fun and really appreciated the chance to finish on such a great note.”

The former fifth overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft’s final stats will say 147 games played, 2431 rushes for 10,009 yards, 66 TDs, and a respectable 4.1 yards per carry.  With an additional  342 catches for 2606 yards and 8 TDs receiving.   The former 1-time Pro Bowl player and All-Pro over an 11-year career had five 1,000-yard rushing seasons including leading the NFL rushing in 2002 with an astounding 1,853 rushing yards.

Many will debate the legacy of Ricky Williams, but to me, he was one of the greatest running backs that I have ever seen. Sure some will point to his non-conformity and his 52 career fumbles. However if you ever want to have some fun, watch his highlight reel, especially from 2002 and 2003.  Then let me know if one day he deserves a spot with the all-time greats in Canton. 

His career numbers – 26^th player in NFL history over 10,000 yards rushing – definitely say that he does merit a look and hopefully one day, Williams will get his just due by being recognized as one of pro football’s elite.  Heck if Floyd Little can be a Hall of Famer – no disrespect – then Ricky deserves to get a look to.

Rice said of his one season with Williams, “As a young player, you need to be around a guy who knows what he is doing, and Ricky was tremendous to learn from. The way he took care of his body and the way he prepared, he always showed that he is a true professional. This past season with him is a year I will never forget.”

So now it is “Rest, Ricky, Rest” time and many around the NFL will reflect on a man that was more than your typical dumb jock.  And this time, it appears to be for good.

Lloyd’s Leftovers

Also here is a link to probably the best interview that I have ever seen of Ricky Williams from Mike Wallace of CBS’ 60 Minutes http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=856389n

Lloyd Vance is the Editor  for Taking It to the House , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).  Lloyd can be reached on Twitter @lloydvance_nfl

The Giants are Super Bowl Champs again and everyone has something to say about it.  Listen to what “Jaws” had to say on New York’s 2nd big win in 4 years

The debate over Super Bowl XLVI and the Giants’ second miraculous win over the favored Patriots in the NFL’s Big Game continues daily.

Everyone has an opinion on “Eli’s Play / Legacy”, “Tom Brady’s Performance”, “Wes Welker’s Drop”, “Bradshaw’s awkward touchdown” and more.  To get answers to some of these topics and more, we had to go to an expert.

So courtesy of Philly’s 97.5 The Fanatic, here is some audio of Monday Night Football Analyst Ron Jaworski appearing on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike Show talking everything about Super Bowl XLVI.

Jaws on Mike and Mike talking SB XLV
Author insert a music with WS Audio Player.
(Download) this music.

Giants leaders Justin Tuck (2 sacks) and game MVP Eli Manning celebrated as the G-Men won their 2^nd Super Bowl title in 4 years by defeating the Patriots on Sunday

 Former New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra must be smiling as it was “Déjà vu, All over again”.  As four years didn’t matter this time either to the New York Giants football team.  The 2011-12 NFL Season ended the same as the 2007-08 season with the New York Giants “out-toughing” the New England Patriots again to win Super Bowl XVLI by a score of 21-17 in Indianapolis,Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The 92nd NFL season culminated with New England Patriots (15-4) taking it on the chin again from the New York Giants (13-7) in a “Deja Blue” moment.  The NFL’s 267^th and final game of the 2011-12 season didn’t disappoint with great back-and-forth action , strong quarterback play on both sides, and anotherNew York comeback.  There was no “revenge” in the air as the comeback-kids, the Giants, fought to till the very end and came away with another “In Your Face” win over the favored Patriots.

The 3-point underdogs made the game a “Back to the Future” moment as for the second-time, the glass slipper fit.  The scrappy Giants showed that winning the games that “count” are the only ones that matter.  New York won their 6^th consecutive game including 4 straight in the playoffs as they plowed past the best the NFL had to offer in order — Falcons (NFC #5), Packers (NFC #1), Niners (#2), and Patriots (#1) — to win it all…. Please don’t say anything about “deserving”, because the Giants dismantled the NFL’s supposed elite – combined regular season records of 52-11 — in winning their franchise’s 4^th Super Bowl title. 

Yes, during a rollercoaster season that saw many ups and downs for head coach Tom Coughlin’s bunch, but this group never stopped fighting and now they are holding the Lombardi Trophy. And now the cries of “Eli isn’t Peyton” and “Coughlin must go” are nowhere to be found.  The 2011 season was definitely a make-or-break season for the beleaguered pair and they for certain “Made It”.  After putting some serious pressure on himself going into the season with his top-5 quarterback quote, “Yeah, I think I am… I definitely consider myself in that class”. Once again Eli “Don’t call me Peyton’s little Brother” Manning backed it up with his second Super Bowl MVP award.

Manning was masterful as he out-dueled Patriots QB Tom Brady by completing 30-of-40 attempts for 296 yards and 1 TD.  Sure Brady (27- 41, 276 yards, 2 TDs and 1INT) was “on” for the majority of the game — most consecutive completions in Super Bowl history with 16—but Eli proved to be his foil once again in walking away with the biggest game’s biggest prize.  In the game’s omnipotent series, Manning drove theNew Yorkoffense 88 yards for the game-winning points – Eli’s 7th comeback winning drive this season.  The biggest play on the steely drive was Manning connecting with receiver Mario Manningham on a high-reel sideline 38-yard throw-and-catch.  Manningham said of the catch, “I knew as soon as the ball hit my fingertips, I was going to have to freeze my feet.   I kind of knew I was in.”

Of course in comeback gut-wrenching style the Giants victory was not sealed until the game’s final play.  After Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw (72 rushing yards) took it to the house for a score after performing the game’s worst kneel-down ever.  “I was yelling at Ahmad not to score,” Manning said, as the Giants were hoping to kill the clock without permitting the Patriots a chance for a potential game-winning final drive.

The stage was all set for another dramatic Tom Brady Hall-of-Fame moment when America’s Quarterback got the ball with 57 seconds left, 2 timeouts, and trailing be 4 points.  If anyone could rally his troops and drive them down the field to a win it was Brady… right.   Sorry wrong answer as the Giants defense went to work one more time – harassed Brady all game including a “near” sack safety for the games first score — as they hit and sacked Brady when it mattered most to make his championship drive most difficult.

In the end, Brady’s “Hail Mary” pass was not answered as the ball bounced off TE Aaron Hernandez and injured TE Rob Gronkowski could not get to the bouncer before it hit the turf and Giants were World Champions again.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin—oldest HC to win the Super Bowl at 65 years old—said after the game, “I’m thankful and grateful.”

“It’s been a wild game. It’s been a wild season,” said Eli Manning after his team’s huge win.  He added “We had a bunch of guys who never quit.”

Lloyd’s Leftovers

• I thought the pre-game performance by Kelly Clarkson singing the national anthem were solid.
• This game will also be remembered for Brady and his security blanket receiver, Wes Welker, missing on a potential touchdown play when the Patriots were leading 17-15 late in 4th quarter.  In a chicken-and-egg debate that will rage forever in sports bars everywhere, Welker had two hands on a pass thrown partially behind him and dropped a “difficult” catch.  To me he should have had the pass, but Brady didn’t do him any favors with a not so great throw. 

  If they hit that pass and the Patriots scored in that spot, it maybe an entirely different game.  But I can’t stand talking “Shoulda Coulda” after games as almost every National Football League game has plays like that.  And good players take “If” out of the equation.  You can watch the play for yourself and decide from this YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or1nSVUJeq8. 

• Everyone always wants to know the commercials that I liked and didn’t like. I just found it amazing that in our tough economy, about 28 advertisers paid over $3 million per 30-second spot. My number one has to be the “Sling Shot” Doritoes ad followed closely by the Bud Light Rescue Dog “Here We Go”, Clint Eastwood “American Comeback” for cars and NFL Timeline spots. Some stinkers I thought were the Jerry Seinfeld Acura and Ferris Bueller Honda commercials — both terribly played out.  You can watch all of the Super Bowl ads at YouTube.com/adblitz
• I have to admit, the 14 minutes of Madonna at halftime was pretty good as the Material Girl showed that 50 isn’t a death sentence.  But M.I.A’s stunt with the “finger” was lame and now she can just go away.

Now that Super Bowl XLVI is over, I can take a quick break.  Like most people, my NFL season doesn’t end with the Super Bowl.  As the NFL Combine (later in February into March), Free Agency (starts March 13th), Colts’ Peyton-Decision (March 8), and the NFL Draft (April 26-28, with the Indianapolis Colts currently on the clock) will all be here before we know it.

Lloyd Vance is the Editor for Taking It to the House , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).  Lloyd can be reached on Twitter @lloydvance_nfl

Patriots massive offensive guard Brian Waters will be alled on to anchor New England’s O-line against the NY Giants fierce pass rush in Super Bowl XLVI

New York Giants (12-7) vs. New England Patriots (15-3), Sunday February 5th, 6:20 PM ET on NBC

Broadcast Team: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michelle Tafoya

The 92nd NFL season will culminate with Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana as the New England Patriots (15-3) and New York Giants (12-7) take center stage in a game that many are touting as “The Revenge Bowl”.  Vegas has installed the Patriots as a 3-point favorite as a close game is definitely expected.

The actual official title of the 2011 NFL Season is “Back to Football” as related to the end of the league’s 136-Day lockout and the celebration of the return of America’s game without losing any regular season games.  However in the in naming the final 267th game of the 2011 NFL season, the monniker “Back to the Future” fits much better.  After 4 years, we are right back where we left off before Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix, Arizona with the NY Giants facing the New England Patiots – last time the G-Men won 17-14 to stop the Patriots near-perfect season.
 
Once the Conference Championships games were completed with two 3-point wins (Patriots over Ravens, 23-20 and Giants over Niners 20-17 in OT), all eyes turned to the words “Rematch” and “Revenge”.  But for this match-up, I like the term “Rubber Match” more.  Because these two teams are actually meeting for the 3rd time in 4 years as they already renewed their “friendly” rivalry in Week 9 of the 2011 NFL Regular Season. 

In that game, the Giants were able to get the better of the Patriots again, this time in Foxboro by a score of 24-20.  As was the case in Super Bowl XLII, NY Giants QB Eli Manning was gritty in leading his team from a come-from-behind win in a game that was another defensive struggle – score of 0-0 at halftime.

Amazingly after New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (28-49, 342 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) threw a 14-yard scoring pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski with 1:36 minutes left to make the score  20-17, once again Eli showed that he is indeed in the former 3-time Super Bowl winner’s league. 

Manning (20-39, 250 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT) then hit tight end Jake Ballard with 1-yard touchdown pass to culminate an 8-play, 80-yard drive with 15 seconds left for the game’s final margin – was helped by a 20-yard pass interference penalty against New England.  The odd thing about the Giants big Week 9 win over the Patriot was that afterwards they then lost 4 consecutive games to really jeopardize their playoff hopes, while New England hasn’t lost since.

Alright that is enough of strolling down “Memory Lane” and reviewing these two teams past meetings including Super Bowl XLII.  As Sunday’s game is an entirely different story, even though many of the players and coaches are still the same.  Thankfully this time around, no one will be talking about perfection or David vs. Goliath.  But instead the main storyline will be two evenly matched red-hot teams, who are riding long winning streaks into the game – Patriots (10), Giants (5).

The Patriots – ironically have not lost since a Week 9 loss to the Giants, 24-20 — are hoping to ride the “Myra Express” – for the late wife (Myra) of team owner Bob Kraft — to another Super Bowl title (would be the fourth overall for HC Bill Belichick and Brady to tie former Steelers combo Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw) and also get revenge on the upstart Giants.  The Giants got to another Super Bowl under fiery head coach Tom Coughlin by staying the course and never getting too high or too low in a rollercoaster season, where the G-Men were near elimination several times. 

This season’s Giants team has eerily resembled their 2007 Super Bowl winning version as they may not have been spectacular in the regular season (record 9-7, scored 394 points, and allowed 400 points).  But they are now red-hot in the games that matter most.  Giants DE Osi Umenyiora recently said of the eery similarities of both Giants’ Super Bowl runs, “We win the NFC Championship in overtime with a field goal on the road four years ago and go on to the Super Bowl to face the Patriots. We win the NFC Championship in overtime tonight with a field goal on the road and go on to the Super Bowl to face the Patriots!” 

In regards to the action on the field, this end of season match-up will have storylines aplenty.  And you definitely have to start with the two quarterbacks, Eli Manning and Tony Brady.  The Brady/Manning feud will be upfront and center for this game where you can almost point back to August 16, 2011 as date that sealed the two teams Super Bowl destiny.  Manning during an appearance on ESPN 1050 Radio said when asked if he considered himself a top-five quarterback in the NFL, basically on the level of a Tom Brady.  Which Eli strongly responded, “Yeah, I think I am… I definitely consider myself in that class”.
 
And to tell you the truth, Eli is looking more like his future Hall of Fame brother and any other Top 5 quarterback more everyday.  Manning had an NFL-high 6 comeback wins this season and he also set several franchise records.  His regualr numbers (359-589, 61% — 2nd highest in career, 4933 yds – Giants team record, 8.4 yds per pass, 29 TDs – 2nd highest in career, 16 INTs, and his second highest QBR at 92.9) and leadership have shown that indeed Top 5 . 

Plus Eli also has tied an NFL single-season record with 14 fourth-quarter TDs.  And that was all before the playoffs, where he has been masterful as well.  Eli’s numbers in the Giants’ playoff wins over the Falcons (23-32, 277 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 1 sack allowed, and an intentional grounding penalty for a safety); Packers (21-33, 330 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, and allowed only 1 sack) and Niners (32-58, 316 yds, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs) also reflect his status as no longer being just Peyton’s little brother. 

Eli isn’t the only high-priced quarterback, who wants to use the world’s largest stage as an affirmation of being one of the NFL’s Greatest quarterbacks. Brady, who is either considered “America’s Golden Boy” or “Overrated”, depending when the conversation was taking place, wants to get his fourth ring to tie his boyhood idol, former Niners great Joe Montana.  Yes, Brady already is NFL royalty from his previous 3 SB titles and 2 MVP’s. 

But until wins this post-season over the Broncos and Ravens, he had not led New England to a playoff win since the 2007 playoffs – 4-year SB absence.  And recently in playoff losses to the Giants (2007), Ravens (2009), and NY Jets (2010), Brady sometimes looked skittish in the pocket raising questions that he was not the same player since knee surgery in September 2008.  Brady by his own admission even admitted that he had an off-day in the Patriots narrow AFC Championship win over the Ravens.  His numbers (239 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs) reflected the case that the Patriot underrated defense surprisingly had to carry the team to a win over the Ravens.

A now regretful Brady was brutally honest after his “poor” AFC Championship Game performance.  He told CBS’ Jim Nance after the win, “I sucked pretty bad today, but our defense saved us.”  However since then, “Mr. Hollywood” has seemed to get his swagger back as the Patriots turned the page toward Super Bowl XLVi and a rematch with the hated Giants. 

The 34-year old quarterback even got himself in some hot water with Big Blue Nation when he said at a pre-Super Bowl Pep Rally in front of 25,000 faithful fans the following comments:  “We’re going down there, and we’re going down there for one reason. We’re going to give it our best and hopefully we have a lot more people at our party next weekend.”  Though it was not Namath’s “guarantee” before Super Bowl III, some New Yorkers took the comments to heart.  And media outlets like ESPNNewYork fueled the fire as they went with a headline of, “Brady planning victory party.”

I know Patriots fans will be looking for a replay of Brady’s incredible divisional round performance where New England bulldozed the poor Broncos by a score of 45-10 – passing numbers of 26-34, 363 yds, 6 TDs, and 1 INT.  But as Brady and Belichick know from Week 9 and in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants will be bring constant pressure. 

However don’t fret for “Tom Terrific”.  Luckily for Brady (401-611, 65.6%, 5235 yards –2nd in NFL History–, 39 TDs, 12 INTs, and 105.6 QBR) he will be able to lean on his past playoff (record of 16-5) and Super Bowl (record of 3-1 with 2 MVPs) experience.  Plus he also should have his full compliment of weapons for this game including explosive tight ends Rob Gronkowski (ankle) and Aaron Hernandez. 

All eyes will be on Gronkowski (90 receptions for an NFL-TE record 1327 yards, 14.7 ypc, and NFL TE-record 17 TDs) to see if he can match the Super Bowl performance of Terrell Owens in 2005, when the former Eagles star had a huge game on a bum ankle in a loss to the Patriots.  But Gronk’s circumstances are drastically different than Owens as T.O had surgery then was able to rest before testing his formerly broken ankle. 

The Patriots 2nd-year Pro bowl player will only have two full weeks of rest and he is also facing a dreaded “high-ankle sprain”, which never seems to go away.  Plus you know Giants defenders when tackling and blocking against him will be targeting the injury.

Statistically these two teams seem to be evenly matched offensively (Patriots scored 513 points and the Giants have scored 394 points) with both leaning on their passing games first to get early leads so their attacking defenses can pin-their-ears-back.  However at the running back position, it is two entirely different stories.  After being ranked 32nd in NFL Rushing for most of the season, the G-Men found their Ground-and-Pound ways in late season wins over the NY Jets and Cowboys plus in the playoffs over the Falcons and Packers. 

When the Giants are rolling, their “violent” backfield duo of Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) and Brandon Jacobs set the tone for the entire team.  Their best performance had to be in the Giants dominating Wildcard round 24-2 win over the Falcons — season-high 172 yards, 92 by Brandon Jacobs and 63 by Ahmad Bradshaw. But in order to gouge the Patriots’ 31st ranked defense, the G-Men must control all-world defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.  The Patriots perenial pro bowl nose tackle can truly take over a game, just ask the Ravens who were manhandled by Wilfork two weeks ago.

While the Patriots really don’t seem to be care too much about running the ball, depsite solid numbers from RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis last week (15 Rush, 68 yds, 1 TD).  Lately the Patriots really haven’t minded throwing the ball 40+ times.  But that theory will be playing right into the hands of Giants’ defensive mastermind Perry Fewell.  The up-and-coming defensive coordinator definitely will want his guys to have a repeat pressure-filled Super Bowl performance on Brady again — 5 sacks and hit him 16 times in their SB XLII win. In order to slow down Fewell’s speedballs (Jason Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and Umenyiora), the Patriots offense must find some balance as being too pass-happy usually leads to defensive pressure and turnovers. 

Brady recently said of the challenge of facing the Giants stout defensive line, “I think as a quarterback you understand that you can’t sit there and hold the ball all day.”  Also New England will need Green-Ellis, veteran Kevin Faulk, Danny Woodhead, Hernandez or anyone else carrying the ball to gain positive yards to keep the Giants honest.  Some encouraging news for New England runners is that the Giants allowed an average of 130.1 rushing yards per game in the regular season to rank 28th in the NFL.

Look for the Patriots (averaging 324.7 passing yards per game –ranked 2nd in NFL) to go after a Giants secondary that has allowed some big plays against them with slot receiver Wes Welker(9 rec, 136 yards in SB XLII), Gronkowski, and Hernandez – see Niners TE Vernon Davis’ 112-yard, 2 TD performance in the NFC Championship Game.  However I think establishing the run behind mobile OG Brian Waters will definitely be a must for new Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

If the Patriots can find a running game, then they won’t be so easy to stop when spreading the field and going play-action.  The key players for the Giants defense will be CB Corey Webster (6 INTs), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 sacks to rank 3rd in NFL), and pass-rushing veterans Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck.  “We compete amongst each other and if Justin gets a sack, I want two,” Pierre-Paul said.

The Giants D-line can be a match-up problem for any offensive line and they definitely have to feel confident after their SB XLII performance against New England.  The Giants defense was tied for third in the league during the regular season with 48 sacks and they an additional 9 sacks in three playoff game wins. 

Plus in studying the Patriots O-line (Light-Mankins-Connolly-Waters-Solder/Volmer) they can beat with speed and moves (allowed 32 sacks in 2011).   “Our job is to block them,” Patriots guard Logan Mankins said. “And if we do that, we have a good chance to win. We know it’s going to be tough to block them so we need to have our best game out there.”

Even though everyone’s focus has been on New York’s front four, it will be incumbent on other Giants’ defenders, namely their sometimes underachieving linebackers, to step-up.  We know Brady looked “human” against the Ravens, but he surely will have put that poor performance in his rearview mirror and will want to show that he is ready for action. 

With the Giants still working out the kinks on defense (ton of injuries in their secondary in 2011)  – allowed a whopping 400 points for an average of 25 points per game (ranked 25th in NFL) in the regular season – they cannot afford to start too slow against Brady and Company. 

When the Giants have the ball offensive, they will need to have balance first and foremost.  In their Conference Championship win over the Niners, quite frankly, I thought they got away with being pass-happy.  Yes we all know Bradshaw is banged-up and the Niners were one of the NFL’s best against the run.  But Manning threw the ball a whopping 58  times compared to the Giants running the ball 26 times for 85 yards.

Even with the tempation to act a venerable Patriots secondary – allowed an NFL-leading 79 passes of 20 yards or more– the G-Men must stay committed to some form of balance.  If the Giants don’t establish their running game or have balance, the Patriots defense will be able to get after the quarterback.  Despite not having a front-line pressure on their D-line besides Wilfork, the Patriots still were able to put up 40 sacks in the regular season. 

If the New England pass rush is contained, it will allow Manning to get the ball to big play receivers Victor Cruz – had a monster game against SF with 142 yards — and Hakeem Nicks – big game versus Packers,  7 receptions  for 165 yards and 2 TDs — down the field.  But we know Belichick has been hard at devising a scheme to stop Cruz and Nicks despite having one of the NFL’s worst secondaries. 

Things are so bad defensively for the Patriots that in the AFC Championship Game, receiver Julian Edelman played 25 snaps as a slot corner on defense and another 28 on offense.  So it will be interesting to see the Giants offensive game plan.  However I still think it is incumbent on Coughlin and offensive cordinator Kevin Gilbride to utilize their running, tight end Jake Ballard and the screen game to attack New England’s defense other than relying on big plays.  Also the Giants’ offensive line must put in another “lunch bucket” effort, because several Patriots have indicated that New York LT David Diehl is vulnerable, especially against speed.  

Key match-ups to watch for:

Giants RB’s Bradshaw and Jacobs vs. the Patriots Front 7 –It will be interesting to see if Jacobs and Bradshaw are able to produce another clock-churning effort against Belichick’s defense.  Though the Patriots defense is full of no-names, Wilfork and linebackers Brandon Spikes and Jerod Mayo are exceptional against the run.

The Giants Receivers vs. the New England Secondary –  Of course, watch for Manning, Nicks, and Cruz to put-up some big plays down the field (40 yards or more) in an attempt to get a highly coveted early lead.
To say the least, the Patriots secondary has struggled all season covering man-to-man (allowing an average of 323.1 passing yards per game to rank 32nd in NFL) especially against play-action.  The Patriots best guy in the secondary is safety Patrick Chung, but often he has to help out and is catch out of position.  Right now secondary members Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, and Edelman are extremely susceptible to big plays and Manning probably can’t wait to sling it.  The Giants may also be able to attack the middle of the field with TE Jake Ballard on seam routes.
 
The Giants O-line vs. the New England Pass Rush – The Patriots despite losing key pass-rusher Andre Carter have found a variety of ways of getting pressure, especially from blitzes (40 sacks in 2011).  The key will be whether veteran bookends  LT David Diehl and RT Kareem McKenzie can get their hands on the Patriots smaller pass rushers to dictate the pace of the game.  The Giants haven’t allowed a lot sacks lately and their O-line will want a clean pocket for Eli.  Also I will be real interested in the Giants’ interior O-line, especially battling offensive guard Chris Snee, against man-eating NT Vince Wilfork.

Giants LB’s and Safeties vs. Patriots TE’s – It has been an incredible year for TE’s in the NFL and probably no other has had a greater impact than the Patriots Rob Gronkowski.  We will see if Gronk can overcome his ankle injury, but I fully expect him to play.  The Giants set of linebackers along with their safeties will need to make sure coverage holes are not left open for Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez underneath as these two “hybrids” can make huge plays.   The linebackers will also have to keep an eye on backs Danny Woodhead and Kevin Faulk on third downs.

Giants DE’s Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck vs. Patriots OT’s Matt Light and rookie Nate Solder / Sebastian Vollmer – This match-up will serve as the barometer of how much pressure Brady will see.  Pierre-Paul is playing at a level that has not been seen around at the Meadowlands since former great Michael Strahan retired after the G-Men’s Super Bowl win in 2007 and he will need another high-motor effort on Sunday.  Everyone knows Brady does not want to get hit and sometimes has happy-feet when pressured.  So the Giants high-motor sack men will need to use all of their speed and moves to get around the two huge offensive tackles to hurry, harrass, and sack the “pretty boy” passer.  Pressure will also keep the ball out of Wes Welker, Deion Branch, and their TE’s hands. “Most people picking this game will say they’re going to win this game, but we know at the end of the day we’re going to have to get to (Brady) as often as we can if we’re going to win this football game. And that’s exactly what we plan on doing,” Umenyiora said.  The Giants D-line will also have to tackle well in stopping Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis, who is a tough North-and-South runner.

LV’s Pick:  — Just like in their Super Bowl XLII match-up, I am not anticipating a close black-and-blue game.  I know both offenses are very explosive, but it it going to be the defense that can create pressure and get 3-and-outs that will win this game.  Definitely watch for big plays down the field to Cruz, Nicks, Branch, or the Patriots’ young tight ends.  Plus my other big key of course turnovers, especially Pick-6’s or a fumble returns for touchdowns – in the Conference Championships, the Ravens and Niners were self-destructed by turnovers. I think in the end, it may come down to the kickers.  You would think that Patriots former Pro Bowl kicker Stephen Gostowski would have the edge over veteran Lawrence Tynes.  But Tynes has kicked game-winners in big spots recently.  I do believe that a Brady mistake (too pass-happy) will setup the G-Men for a big Tynes kick at the end.  It is going to take a total team effort by New York to shutdown the revenge-minded Patriots.  And you can expect Manning, Bradshaw, Cruz, and Pierre-Paul to all play big parts to get another legacy building  Super Bowl “W” for Coughlin and Manning.  Giants win 27-23 in another close game between these two rivals

Lloyd Vance is the Editor  for Taking It to the House , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).  Lloyd can be reached on Twitter @lloydvance_nfl

Februray 1st was Signing Day around college football as highly touted prospects like  Jameis Winston –signed with Florida State — decided on their football futures

The first week of February has recently become a sports phenomenon as thousands of high school football stars announce their college selections on “Signing Day” (Wednesday February 1st).  As someone who considers himself Old-school and a historian of the game, ‘Signing Day’ is a bit premature and overblown for my taste.  I find it hard to believe the amount of coverage — the ESPN family of channels devoted several hours of coverage — that is given to former high school stars who have not even stepped foot onto a college football practice field.

I even heard some college football analysts absurdly handing out future National Championships and Heisman’s based solely on Signing Day. Sure it is a great experience for players and their families to be featured on national television, but you have to wonder if all of the white-hot ‘Signing Day’ attention and expectations placed on these young men does more harm than good. 

Immediately you know these young players are feeling the outside pressure from hanger-on types that are looking at them as their meal ticket and in terms of football, coaches and teammates may want immediate results from a player who may not be ready to deliver for three years.  For all of the hysteria surrounding Signing Day, my advice to everyone patting these young men on the back is to “Relax”. The college football world needs to remember that it is only one calendar day and immediately after the 2012 Super Class is announced, everyone will already be getting ready to anoint the 2013 group.

Unfortunately college football history is filled with high school hotshots who couldn’t live-up to their immense Letter of Intent expectations.  Remember the road from Friday Night Lights high school Big Man to Saturday afternoon college football playmaker is quite trepidous with many potential pitfalls including grades, competition, injuries, girls, partying and any other obstacle that can quickly dim any high school All-American’s bright future.

Another trend that I believe is signaling the too quick end of blue-chip player’s youth is that many Signing Day prospects are graduating high school early — foregoing the final semester of their senior year — to enroll in college in January to get a head start on their competition by playing in college Spring Ball.

We will have to see in the next 2 to 3 years how the Signing Day Class of 2012 progresses, but I caution college football fans to give these young players time to mature.  Of course the usual bullies of the BCS landscape – Florida, USC, Texas, LSU, Alabama, and Oklahoma – were listed as the winners of Signing Day.

Do you remember the names Anthony Martinez (Virginia), Ron Powlus (Notre Dame), and James Banks (Tennessee)…probably not.  But on their respective Signing Days, these former blue-chippers were all considered “Can’t Miss” prospects.

Some of the players that I will have my eye on that signed their Letters of Intent on February 1st are.

NAME                        HOMETOWN            COLLEGE
Anthony Alford     Petal, MS                        Southern Miss
Javelle Allen             Prosper, TX                 Arizona
Matt Davis                 Houston, TX                 Texas A&M
Kiehl Frazier            Springdale, Ark.          Auburn
Devin Fuller            Old Tappan, NJ             UCLA
Jamil Golden            Memphis, TN                Undecided
Robert Gregory       Chicago, IL                    Undecided
Jamie Jarmon           Indian River, SC        South Carolina (baseball)
Taylor Reynolds       Newark, DE                 James Madison
James Summers        Greensboro, NC        North Carolina
Marquise Williams    Charlotte, N.C.         North Carolina
Jameis Winston          Hueytown, AL         Florida State

Lloyd Vance is the Editor  for Taking It to the House , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).  Lloyd can be reached on Twitter @lloydvance_nfl

When it comes to Super Bowl XLVI (Giants-Patriots), everyone has a prediction.  A popular chef even used “Chicken Wings” to make his.

With Super Bowl XLVI just around the corner, football fans across the country are gearing up for the big game by predicting which team will take home the Lombardi Trophy.  A popular chef and his chicken wings are burning up YouTube with his prediction that the New York Giants will beat the New England Patriots in this Sunday’s game.

Chef John Mitzewich of Allrecipes.com declared the Giants will win the Super Bowl by tossing chicken wing bones. Much like the ancient tradition of reading tea leaves, John predicted the Giants to win by polishing off a plate of his favorite wings and tossing the bones to “read” who will emerge the victor.

Already over 35,000 fans have viewed the video.  You too can make your own wing toss prediction by following the instructions at http://yhoo.it/xRhoDf…. BTW: Chef John better keep his chicken wings away from Patriots mammoth DT Vince Wilfork or they will be gobbled up in seconds.

To get you ready for your Super Bowl Sunday Spread, www.takingit2thehouse.com will have more articles on big game food and drinks soon.

Red-Hot QB Eli Manning will lead the New York Giants versus the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.  The Giants will be looking to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl for the second time in four years

The 2011-12 NFL season will finish its oh-too-fast season with Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana as the New England Patriots (15-3) and New York Giants (12-7) take center stage in a game that many are touting as “The Revenge Bowl”. 

It will be interesting to see if Super Bowl XLVI ends the ’11 season with a bang or a blowout, which seems to have happened way too much in Super Bowl history. Hopefully the season will close with a good game like the last 4 Super Bowls.  Since SB XXXVIII in 2003 (Patriots over Panthers, 32-29), five out of the last eight Super Bowls have had margin of 6 points or less including last year’s game, Packers over Steelers 31-25.  All week, the Indianapolis region has had some chilly weather, but you can expect the temperatures around the country and inside Lucas Oil Stadium to be “hot” this Sunday.

“Super Bowl Sunday” is America’s unofficial holiday filled with fellowship, trash talk, and of course eating.  Everywhere you turn, people are talking about the Patriots and Giants locking horns this Sunday.  Even my 80-year old plus grandmother, who usually is not in front of the television on Sunday’s watching NFL gridiron action, will be attending a Super Bowl party. 

She and an expected record television audience of 106 Million plus viewers will be watching this Sunday as the Giants and Patriots take center stage in the biggest game in sports.  There has already been plenty of Brady-Manning, Coughlin-Belichick, and Rematch talk. But no matter how Super Bowl XLVI ends, the 2011 NFL Season should have been titled, “One Crazy Season” — seven of the NFL’s eight divisions featured new division champions from last season.

The actual official title of the 2011 NFL Season is “Back to Football” as related to the end of the league’s 136-Day lockout and the celebration of the return of America’s game without losing any regular season games.  However in the in naming the NFL’s final game of the 2011 season, the monniker “Back to the Future” fits much better. 

After 4 years, we are right back where we left off before Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix, Arizona with the NY Giants facing the New England Patiots.  Osi Umenyiora recently said of the eery similarities of both Giants’ Super Bowl runs, “We win the NFC Championship in overtime with a field goal on the road four years ago and go on to the Super Bowl to face the Patriots. We win the NFC Championship in overtime tonight with a field goal on the road and go on to the Super Bowl to face the Patriots!” 

Back in 2008, the Giants proved experts wrong by beating the heavily favored New England Patriots 17-14.  The G-Men preserved the perfection honor of the 1972 Dolphins as they knocked the Patriots (18-1) championship perfection express off the tracks with a dominating defensive effort. The Giants were led by veteran defensive captain Michael Strahan (now retired) and defensive end Justin Tuck (still a dominating player) with the Steve Spagnuolo (now Saints DC) making all the right calls that produced 5 sacks.  Patriots “Golden Boy” quarterback Tom Brady was hit again and again (16 hits in all) as his stable of all-star receivers could not get open fast enough. 

Riding a wave of confidence from their tough 38-35 home loss to the Patriots in week 17, the disrespected Giants — first NFC wildcard team to win Super Bowl – and their beleaguered duo of head coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning answered the 88th NFL season’s moniker/question “Who Wants It More?” The upstart “road warrior” New York Giants won an NFL record 11 straight games including 4 playoff road victories as they personified the word “Hungry”. 

In Super Bowl XLII, the Giants started with an opening drive that lasted 16 plays and took a Super Bowl record 9:59 minutes off the clock and never looked back. Manning was gritty and never made the mistake that so many doubters predicted.  He truly showed his mettle in the fourth quarter leading the Giants comeback from a 14-10 deficit concluding a “white knuckle” drive with a perfect 13-yard touchdown fade route to his favorite target Plaxico Burress (now on NY Jets after serving time on a gun charge) that made the final deficit of 17-14. 

On the drive, Manning was 5-9 for 79 yards with a huge touchdown and one big “shut up” for his haters. The magical game-winning 12-play, 83-yard drive was a test of will that the G-Men passed as they converted three third downs.  The biggest play of the game-winning drive, if not the season was provided by Manning and little-known receiver, David Tyree. 

On the key play, Eli pulled away from Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green, who had two large handfuls of the Giants  quarterback’s jersey, and threw up a prayer over the middle that was answered by Tyree, who earlier had caught the Giants first touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter.  The special teamer turned receiving star catch the 32-yard jump ball against his helmet as Rodney Harrison pulled and prodded unsuccessfully at the G-Men’s tough guy.  The play ignited the Giants sideline and showed that the New Yorkers would not be denied.

Alright that is enough of strolling down “Memory Lane” and reviewing Super Bowl XLII as Sunday’s game is an entirely different story, even though many of the players and coaches are still the same.  Thankfully this time around, no one will be talking about perfection or David vs. Goliath.  But instead the main storyline will be two evenly matched red-hot teams, who are riding long winning streaks into the game – Patriots (10), Giants (5).

The Patriots – ironically have not lost since a Week 9 loss to the Giants, 24-20 — are hoping to ride the “Myra Express” – for the late wife (Myra) of team owner Bob Kraft — to another Super Bowl title (would be the fourth overall for Belichick and Brady to tie Noll/Bradshaw) and also get revenge on the upstart Giants.  The Giants got to another Super Bowl under fiery head coach Tom Coughlin by staying the course and never getting too high or too low in a rollercoaster season, where the G-Men were near elimination several times. 

Sure some will boast that their crystal ball registered this Super Bowl match-up way back in September — hey what do I know… I picked a match-up of the Steelers over the Eagles. But the majority of folks probably were second-guessing both the NFC and AFC representatives going into this season, especially their quarterbacks.  Even though Brady and Manning will be the first two former Super Bowl MVP winning quarterbacks to square off in the big game, they both were definitely not “locks” to be playing in Indy when the season started. 

Yes, Brady already is NFL royalty from his previous 3 SB titles and 2 MVP’s, but he also had not led New England to a playoff win since the 2007 playoffs – 4-year SB absence.  And recently in playoff losses to the Giants (2007), Ravens (2009), and NY Jets (2010), Brady sometimes looked skittish in the pocket raising questions that he was not the same player since knee surgery in September 2008. 

And even after a Super Bowl win and MVP award, Eli still was considered by many a “ride along” winner for SB XLII in Trent Dilfer style.  Plus the long shadow of his older brother, Peyton, continued to cover the younger Manning in the ensuing 2008 (first round loss), 2009 (no playoffs), and 2010 (no playoffs) seasons, which were tough on the Giants and Eli. 

Before the 2011 season, Manning and Giants had not won a playoff game since beating the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.  Also there was the little matter of Eli agreeing  to a six-year, $97 million contract extension — average salary of roughly $15.3 million – before the 2010 season that made him the highest paid player in the NFL at the time. 

The cries of “Eli isn’t Peyton” and “Coughlin must go” were growing louder and louder entering the 2011 season, which definitely caused a make-or-break season for the beleaguered pair.  Manning put even more pressure on himself and added more fuel to the Brady/Manning feud by his comments to ESPN 1050 Radio on August 16, 2011.  During his appearance, Manning was asked if he considered himself a top-five quarterback in the NFL, basically on the level of a Tom Brady.  Which Eli strongly responded, “Yeah, I think I am… I definitely consider myself in that class”. 

Once the Conference Championships games were completed with two 3-point wins (Patriots over Ravens, 23-20 and Giants over Niners 20-17 in OT), all eyes turned to the words “Rematch” and “Revenge”.  But for this match-up, I like the term “Rubber Match” more.  Because these two teams are actually meeting for the 3rd time in 4 years as they already renewed their “friendly” rivalry in Week 9 of the 2011 NFL Regular Season.  In that game, the Giants were able to get the better of the Patriots again, this time in Foxboro by a score of 24-20. 

As was the case in Super Bowl XLII, Eli Manning was gritty in leading his team from a come-from-behind win in a game that was another defensive struggle – score of 0-0 at halftime.  Amazingly after Brady (28-49, 342 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) threw a 14-yard scoring pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski with 1:36 minutes left to make the score  20-17, once again Eli showed that he is indeed in the former 3-time Super Bowl winner’s league. 

Manning (20-39, 250 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT) then hit tight end Jake Ballard with 1-yard touchdown pass to culminate an 8-play, 80-yard drive with 15 seconds left for the game’s final margin – was helped by a 20-yard pass interference penalty against New England.  The odd thing about the Giants big Week 9 win over the Patriot was that afterwards they then lost 4 consecutive games to really jeopardize their playoff hopes.

Whether you are calling this season’s Super Bowl “The Rematch”, “The Revenge Bowl”, “The Rivalry”, “Let’s Do it Again”, or “The Rubber Match”, there definitely is a buzz about these two teams meeting after having turned their seasons around to reach the NFL’s pinnacle game.  At one time, the Patriots were 5-3 and had an embarassing 34-31 loss in Week 3 to the lowly Buffalo Bills on their record. 

While the Giants were basically were left for dead after losing 5 of 6 games between Weeks 10 and Week 15 including a terrible 23-10 home loss to the Redskins.  And a testament to the excitement and anticipation of this game is the SB record more than 5,100 credentialed media members including 116 international organizations covering the big game. 

I will post my keys and picks to the game soon, but you definitely have to think the team that can overcome their regular-season defensive woes to dominate will win.  Both the Patriots and Giants have struggled at times this season in stopping their opposition, to say the least.  In fact, the Patriots are the lowest-ranked defense of any team to ever play in the Super Bowl. 

New England finished 31st in defense (yards) this season and allowed a league-leading 79 passes of 20 yards or more. While the Giants allowed more points (400) than they scored (394) in 2011 to rank 25th in points allowed.  Things are so bad defensively for the Patriots that in the AFC Championship Game, receiver Julian Edelman played 25 snaps as a slot corner on defense and another 28 on offense.

So expected or unexpected, this is the game that the parity-laden National Football League has handed us for Super Bowl Sunday 2012 (February 5th).  And I for one am very excited to see this rematch from instant-classic Super Bowl XLII.  And a good portion of the country is also excited as Super Bowl hype is at an all-time high.  ESPN Anlayst Tom Jackson said of this match-up, “We have two of the best teams in the league playing really good football, and we’re thinking that we’re ready to see a pretty darn good football game.”

However both teams will now need to do as Chuck D used to rap “Don’t Believe the Hype”.   Of course having played and beaten a team in the regular season may cause some “familiarity” and a psychological edge in game planning along with dissecting tendencies. But tried-and-true playoff tenants of Strong Quarterback Play (i.e. Taking Care of the Football), Good Attacking Defense, a Balanced Offensive Attack based first in the Run, Sound Special Teams Play, Limiting Penalties/Turnovers, and just plain “Want-to” will be the key factors as to which team leaves Super Bowl XLVI with the Lombardi Trophy.

Former Super Bowl  XXII MVP Doug Williams once told me how he dealt with the pressure and hype of being a starting quarterback on the NFL’s Grandest Stage. The former Grambling State star said, “Winning was the only thing on my mind and that I was the quarterback of the Washington Redskins first”.

Both remaining teams need to focus on their precious opportunity of the attaining the lifetime achievement of being called a “Super Bowl Champion”.  They also need to forget everything else that has transpired in the past 20 weeks leading up to the big game and what happened 4 years ago.  As there are 30 other envious teams who are dying right now to be in their shoes.

Lloyd’s Leftovers for Super Bowl XLVI

• Being #1 Seed is not what it used to be – Remember when attaining the No. 1 seed in your conference and home field advantage used to mean something back in the day — think of former Bully Teams: Paul Brown’s Cleveland Browns of the ‘50s, Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers of the ‘60s, Chuck Knoll’s Pittsburgh Steelers of the ‘70s, Bill Walsh’s San Francisco 49ers of the ‘80s, Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys of the ‘90s, and Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots of the ‘00s.  But in today’s parity-laden NFL there are no guarantees to the Super Bowl.  However this year is a little different as the Patriots bucked the odds to become the first No. 1 seed to make it to the big dance since Super Bowl XLIV when top seeds, Indianapolis and New Orleans, squared-off.  Since 1990 only 21 of 42 number one seeds in the playoffs have made it to the Super Bowl with only 9 of those teams winning it all.

• Still watch for everyone’s favorite Super Bowl Ads – Every year one of the bigger events of the Super Bowl is watching the ads.  Thirty-second spots during Super Bowl XLVI were sold for $2.8-$3 million. Already there has been news leaked of Honda putting out a “Ferris Bueller” ad for Super Bowl Sunday. Of course the king of the advertisers, Budweiser, will be all over your television — exclusive beer advertiser for 24 years.  Bud last season locked up its position as the only national beer advertiser in the Super Bowl through 2014. “We wouldn’t have done it if the payoff wasn’t there,” said Anheuser-Busch President Dave Peacock.  For everything to do with Super Bowl XLVI’s Ads go to www.superbowl-ads.com

• Just in Case…. Brush up on the new Overtime Rules – Now a game cannot be won on the 1st drive of overtime by a field goal.  In this scenario, the other team would now get a chance to match with a field goal — game would revert to sudden death — or score a touchdown for the win.  But as always, if a team wins the coin toss and scores a touchdown on the opening drive, then the game would be over.  The new system does not guarantee each team a possession.  What it does guarantee, is the “opportunity for possession” for the second team, if the first team scores a field goal. Also remember there are some other crazy factors – that you know will come into play this postseason – to consider.  If a team kicks an onside kick and recovers the ball or gets the ball on a muff that would be considered a “possession” and a field goal could win it.

• Belichick trying to climb the postseason wins board — New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has compiled a postseason record of 16 – 5 with 5 SB appearances and 3 wins (3-1 with a this one pending).  With a win this Sunday, Belichick can join Chuck Noll as the only head coaches to have 4 Super Bowl titles.  The Patriots surefire Pro Football Hall of Famer cuurently ranks fifth all-time with 16 playoff victories, trailing only Hall of Famers Tom Landry, Don Shula, Joe Gibbs, and Noll.

• Divas will be singing in full force on Super Bowl Sunday – Former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson will have the honor of signing the National Athem.  While pop diva matriarch, Madonna, will be performing at halftime to the millions watching at home.  Thank Goodness, this is the kinder gentler 2012 version of the Material Girl.  As the Network Sensors would have had their fingers right next to the “kill” button for any Janet Jackson type slip-ups, if this was the ‘90s Justify My Love version of Madonna.  It is rumored that she will be joined by hip-hop star Nicki Minaj, pop group LMFAO and rapper Cee Lo Green.

Key, Match-ups, and Pick will be up next….

New York Giants (12-7) vs. New England Patriots (15-3), Sunday February 5th, 6:30 PM ET on NBC

Broadcast Team: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michelle Tafoya

Lloyd Vance is the Editor  for Taking It to the House , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).  Lloyd can be reached on Twitter @lloydvance_nfl

Quarterback Eli Manning will be returning to his 2nd Super Bowl — ironically against the Patriots again — after the Giants overtime win over the stunned Niners.

After 4 years, we are right back where we left off before Super Bowl XLII in Arizona with the NY Giants  facing the New England Patiots.  However the look and feel of upcoming Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis is that of two evenly matched teams rather than David vs. Goliath.

It should be a good couple of weeks leading to Indy, but first let’s revisit the AFC and NFC Championships.  It was a tale of two kickers as the Ravens Billy Cundiff improbably missed very short make-up field goal as the Patriots thankfully won a hard fought game 23-20 in frigid Foxboro.  Next up Brady and Belichick are hoping to ride the “Myra Express” to a Super Bowl title and get revenge on the upstart Giants.

The Giants got to another Super Bowl under fiery head coach Tom Coughlin by staying the course and never getting too high or too low in a rollercoaster NFL classic.  Of course lots of people will be point to the horrible game of the Niners fill-in return man Kyle Williams (2 fumbles to the game-winning points for the Giants), but in the end New York was just plain tougher.

Quarterback Eli Manning overcame several hard hits to move his team on third downs and also into perfect field goal position for kicker Lawrence Tynes game-winner in overtime.  Speaking of Tynes, the veteran didn’t let “nerves” get to him as he hit his 2nd Super Bowl sending game-winner through the uprights.

So now let the Brady-Manning, Coughlin-Belichick, and Rematch talk start…. But Thankfully this time no one with be talking perfection between two, far from perfect, teams that got red-hot at the right time.

After a masterful 2011 regular season and playoffs, there is no doubt that New York Giants QB Eli Manning has stepped out from the long shadow of his older brother Peyton

Let’s jump in the hot-tub time machine and go back to August 16, 2011.  Appearing on ESPN 1050 Radio, New York Giants QB Eli Manning was asked if he considered himself a top-five quarterback in the NFL, basically on the level of a Tom Brady.  Which Eli strongly responded, “Yeah, I think I am… I definitely consider myself in that class”.  Well you know the snickers among NFL fans and media were heard from Maine to California as many have always viewed Eli as the “other” Manning quarterback.

Former United States Attorney General Robert Kennedy must’ve heard it over one million times during his political career, “You will never be as good as your brother”.  Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you see it, that was the road that Robert had to follow in walking in the footsteps of his older brother, former President John F. Kennedy.  And those are similar footsteps that other less famous brothers Ken Brett (George), Eddie Payton (Walter), Patrick McEnroe (John), and others have had to walk in on “Comparison Road”.

Certainly you know that Eli has heard the same refrain just as many times in being compared to his older brother and surefire future Hall of Famer, Peyton – NFL’s only 4-time MVP.  Despite leading the Giants to an improbable Super Bowl XLII victory over the then-undefeated New England Patriots in February 2008, many still felt that the younger Manning was just along for the ride, even though he won the game’s MVP award.

There were many who still questioned if “Awe Shucks” babyfaced Eli would ever possess the steely tough-guy quarterback leadership mentality of Peyton and their Father, Archie, a former NFL quarterback himself.   But true to his form from following in his father’s footsteps at his alma mater, Ole Miss, and Peyton’s in the SEC, young Eli just put his head down and worked at being the best player that he could be.

The road to NFL stardom was a tough one for the more “shy” Manning brother as many in the pressure cooker that is New York City constantly wondered if he truly could ever become “The Man” in a city that demands it.  After the Manning family orchestrated a 2004 draft day deal that brought Eli to New York instead of San Diego, expectations were very high and everyone was expecting Peyton – not his skinnier little brother –  to come walking through the door at the old Meadowlands Stadium.

But early on it was evident that Eli, despite his royal NFL lineage, would also have to suffer through the many bumps in the road that usually accompany graduating to the “big boy” league.  Though NFL scouts point to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as professional football’s No. 1 minor league system, the speed and excentricities of the pro game make it look like Pop Warner football at times.  Eli was supposed to be brought along “slowly” as the Giants signed former Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner to mentor him.

However Warner’s own struggles and Eli’s high expectations (No. 1 selection, being a Manning, and huge contract) caused his growth cycle to accelerate to light speed.  To say the least Eli was not prepared for what was waiting for him in the NFL and it showed at times.  His low-point had to have been in his fourth career start, against the Baltimore Ravens in M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2004.  In that game that he would like to forget, the Ravens veteran defense confused him into a 0.0 passer rating performance and a seat on the bench with Warner playing in the second half.

While older brother Peyton was able to finally qwell his own demons with MVP regular seasons and regular playoff appearances that eventually led to a victory in Super Bowl XLI.  There were still those who wondered if Eli could even be the next Jeff Hostetler (last QB before Manning to lead the G-Men to a SB win), let alone his older brother.  Not even breakout seasons in 2005 and 2006, where he led the Giants back to the playoffs, were enough to silence the growing “Eli Can’t Do It” chorus.

Unfortunately, many of Eli’s detractors could point to his touchdown-to-interception ratio (48:35), pass completion percentage (combined 55%) , and two underwhelming playoff performances (both losses including 3 INTs, 1 TD, and not breaking 200 yards in either game) in his first two playoff seasons as ammunition to further question if the younger Manning was even worth his pedigree.  However something may have started to click in Eli after Peyton won a Super Bowl in 2006 that finally made the young brother to want to also silence his own critics.  His fuel definitely had to be further invigorated as Eli was surprisingly blasted by his former teammate, turned media guy, Tiki Barber before the 2007 season.

On his former radio show, Barber said of Eli, “His personality hasn’t been so that he can step up, make a strong statement and have people believe that it’s coming from his heart.” The Giants’ all-time rusher then added a story from Week 12 of the previous season.  “He didn’t feel like his voice was going to be strong enough and it showed,” Barber said. “Sometimes it was almost comical the way that he would say things.”  But as expected, Eli being Eli took the high road andt used Barber’s comments as motivation. 

In training camp when asked about Barber’s comments Eli said, I’m not going to lose any sleep about what Tiki has to say”.  The emerging quarterback added, “I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season, and (how) he’s lost the heart (to play). As a quarterback you’re reading that your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it’s about the 10th week. I can see that a little bit at times.”

During the 2007 season, Eli may not have had the prettiest passing numbers (23 TDs, 20 INTs).  But what he lacked in stats, he more than made-up for in lockerroom respect.  After a season-ending stretch where the Giants were inconsistent – record of 3-2 in their last 5 games – both quarterback and team got on track when it mattered most.  A heartbreaking 17-14 loss to the undefeated high-powered Patriots was what New York needed in terms of confidence entering the playoffs and they never looked back. Manning and his teammates – NYG were 10-6 while hanging on just to gain a Wildcard spot — were poised and ready, even though they had the unenviable task of having to win 4 road games to take home the Lombardi Trophy.

As Eli played some of the best football of his career, in succession the Giants defeated the Bucs (24-14 with Eli’s passing numbers 20-27, 185 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs); Cowboys (21-17 with Eli’s passing numbers 12-18, 163 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs), and Packers (23-20 in OT with Eli’s passing numbers 21-40, 251 yards, 0 TDs, and 0 INTs) to setup the unenviable task of playing the 18-0 undefeated New England Patriots.  After showing some serious grit in leading the underdog Giants to a historical overtime win over the Packers in frigid Lambeau Field, Manning seemed poised for the challenge of facing the might Patriots.

With hardly anyone outside of their lockerroom giving them a chance, the Giants went right back to where they left off in Week 17 by taking the game to the Patriots.  Eli (19-34, 255, 2 TD, 1 INT) was part of the story too as he kept the chains moving when needed and overcame some tense moments to lead his team to the Giants first Super Bowl win in over 15 years.  Manning was gritty and never made the mistake that so many doubters predicted.  And once again, it was in the clutch ending moments of the game where Eli showed that he has aninate ability “out-Manning” Peyton, when it matters most.

Eli truly showed his mettle in the fourth quarter leading the Giants’ comeback from a 14-10 deficit.  The NFL Films highlight from the Giants’ game-winning drive was Manning miraculously pulling away from Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green, who had two large handfuls of the Giants quarterback’s jersey.  And then Manning throwing up a prayer over the middle that was answered by special teamer turned receiving star David Tyree.  Tyree catch the 32-yard jump ball against his helmet as Rodney Harrison pulled and prodded unsuccessfully at the G-Men’s tough guy.  The play ignited the Giants sideline and showed that the New Yorkers would not be denied.

Manning and the G-Men offense concluded the “white knuckle” drive with a perfect 13-yard touchdown fade route to his favorite target Plaxico Burress that made the final deficit of 17-14 – audibled on touchdown throw.  On the game-winning drive, Eli was 5-9 for 79 yards with a huge touchdown and one big “shut up” for his haters. The magical game-winning 12-play, 83-yard drive was a test of will that the G-Men passed as they converted three third downs.

However even in victory there were those who continued to say, despite winning the MVP of Super Bowl XLII, that Eli wasn’t the focal point of his team and that he was riding along in Trent Dilfer style.  Even some of the praise that came Eli’s way was a little back-handed too.  “Eli had a great game today,” Giants receiver Amani Toomer said. “He took what was out there and didn’t force anything. He doesn’t get real excited…there is more than one way to lead a team … and he showed that today.”

In the after-glow of their playoff win, many people were heaping praise on head coach Tom Coughlin, Tyree, and veteran defensive players Michael Strahan and Antonio Pierce, leaving Eli way down the list.  But the younger Manning knew at age 26 that he would have more than a few opportunities to distance himself from his brother, now that they both had 1 Super Bowl win and 1 SB MVP.  However the ensuing 2008, 2009, and 2010 were tough on the Giants and Eli.  As “Heavy is the head that wears the crown”.

The good news from the 2008 NFL Season was that Eli made his first Pro Bowl after posting passing numbers: 289-479, 60% — then a career-high, 3238 yards, 21 TDs and 10 INTs career-low for 16-game season.  However the Giants were one-and-done in the playoffs as they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 23-11 at home in the Meadowlands.  In that game, Eli was tentative and made some rookie mistakes as he finished with pedestrian numbers (15-29, 51.7%, 169 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs and a 40.7 QBR).

That Wildcard loss was also the last time that Giants would sniff the playoffs until the 2011 season.  Manning continued to hear cries that the “real” Eli is back as the Giants did not make the playoffs in 2009 and 2010 after solid starts in both seasons.  In those two seasons Manning also threw for over 4,000 yards and over 25 TDs, but numbers and a past Super Bowl victory were ancient history to his detractors.  Also there was the little matter of Eli agreeing  to a six-year, $97 million contract extension — average salary of roughly $15.3 million – in before the 2010 season that made him the highest paid player in the NFL at the time.  The cries of “Eli isn’t Peyton” and “Coughlin must go” were growing louder and louder entering the 2011 season.

In an effort to prepare himself for a Make-or-Break season, Eli, despite the NFL Lockout, stayed in the New York area for the first time in a while.  He coordinated player-led workouts and you could clearly see that the 30-year old passer was physically and mentally ready to be the unquestioned leader of the Giants.  When the season started, despite a multitude of injuries and some serious bumps in the road, the Giants and Manning stayed the course and won the games that mattered most.  With their season on the line, the Giants won in Weeks 16 over the NY Jets and in Week 17 over the Dallas Cowboys to improbably win the NFC East division with an underwhelming record of 9-7.

But don’t let the Giants record fool you into thinking that Eli had regressed in 2011.  To the contrary, Manning is by far playing the best football of his career.  He has gotten physically bigger and is also putting in the extra off-the-field work with Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride that has given him a total understanding of the entire field.  The 2011 season has been magical for Eli as he made his second Pro Bowl after posting some of the most astounding numbers in New York Giants history.  His numbers (359-589, 61% — 2nd highest in career, 4933 yds – Giants team record, 8.4 yds per pass, 29 TDs – 2nd highest in career, 16 INTs, and his second highest QBR at 92.9) and leadership have shown that indeed Eli was right when he made his Top 5 comments before the season.

Manning has also shown that he is in the NFL’s Top 5, if not one of the league’s best, when it comes to Crunch Time.  He lead the league with 6 comeback victories and set an NFL record with 15 fourth-quarter touchdown passes – broke Peyton’s record.  The confidence, leadership, maturity and physicality that Eli – just celebrated his 31st birthday on January – has displayed in putting up MVP type numbers has definitely carried over to the postseason.

This season’s Giants team has eerily resembled their 2007 Super Bowl winning version as they may not have been spectacular in the regular (record 9-7, scored 394 points, and allowed 400 points).  But they are now red-hot in the games that matter most.  In dominating wins over the Falcons (by a score of 24-2) and the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers (by a score of 37-20), Eli Manning has been masterful in dictating and orchestrating at the line of scrimmage.  We are seeing more “Peyton” from Eli as he is seeing the field with clarity and has shown an ability to audible and call-out pass protections with the best of them. 

Eli’s numbers in the Giants’ wins over the Falcons (23 -32, 277 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 1 sack allowed, and an intentional grounding penalty for a safety) and Packers (21-33, 330 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, and allowed only 1 sack) also reflect that he is indeed the a Top 5 quarterback and should be viewed as more than Peyton’s little brother.  Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan recently said of Eli, “The guy’s playing excellent.  He does a great job. He’s got an unbelievable touch. He will stand in there in the face of a damn hurricane and throw the ball. He’s really tough…. He’s in that elite group for sure.”

Pretty soon Peyton – age 35 and trying to comeback from three neck surgeries — may soon be answering to calls of “Hey Eli’s Brother”.  As the older Manning’s playoff tally now stands at 2 Super Bowls played in, 1 Super Bowl win, 1 SB MVP, 1 playoff game-winning drive, and a postseason record of 9-11.  Compared to Eli’s 1 Super Bowls played in, 1 Super Bowl win, 1 SB MVP, 3 playoff game-winning drives and a postseason record of 6-3.

CBS NFL Analyst Rich Gannon on whether Eli Manning is now an elite quarterback said, “It’s amazing that we’re even having this conversation — a year and a half ago, we would have been wondering if Eli was, what, maybe the ninth best quarterback in the league?  Now he’s pulled himself into the upper echelons of the best quarterbacks in the business.”

And don’t forget, Eli is not done yet in the 2011 Playoffs.  So his resume could continue to grow, starting with a big game this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. ….Could we be seeing two Manning’s in Canton one day?? 

Let’s not get too far ahead ourselves.  But Eli’s growth is unquestioned – right behind Brady as the best quarterback left playing in the 2011 Playoffs — and we just might be seeing the beginning of a sustained period of success from Archie’s Youngest Son and Peyton’s Little Brother. 

Lloyd Vance is the Editor  for Taking It to the House , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).  Lloyd can be reached on Twitter @lloydvance_nfl