For Giants, it's the hating game vs. Cowboys
by Gary Myers is a Daily News sports columnist
The one thing the Giants, Eagles and Redskins have in common is their warm feelings for the Cowboys.
"I don't like them. I probably never will," said Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington, who spent the first six years of his career with the Redskins. "I don't care for them. Just playing against them for so long, you develop a healthy dislike for them."
The Giants finish their first run through the NFC East tomorrow night at Texas Stadium. If they can follow up victories over the Redskins and Falcons and beat the Cowboys, they will accomplish two things: reestablishing themselves as Super Bowl contenders and being 3-0 in the division with road victories in Philly and Dallas.
"The Cowboys are not one of my favorite teams," running back Brandon Jacobs said. "I don't like anybody in the league if it's not the Giants."
Dallas has forever been considered an arrogant organization that thinks a little too highly of itself and flaunts the America's Team label. But the Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1996, the longest stretch in team history. Just six other teams, not counting the 1999 expansion Browns and 2002 expansion Texans, have a current streak of at least that long.
The Cowboys have become the most entertaining show in the NFL primarily because you never know what Terrell Owens is going to do next and when Bill Parcells will finally lose his temper with him. "When (Owens) is happy, everybody around him is happy," Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "When he's not, nobody is happy. It's like a marriage."
Here are the five most intriguing Giants-Cowboys storylines:
The First Stop On The Tiki Barber Farewell Tour: He's leaving after this season and retiring on his own terms. He's earned that right. But how many athletes make a retirement announcement in the middle of the season, especially when their team is on a roll and days away from a crucial game? Barber should have used better judgment and waited until after the season instead of creating a distraction that could last the entire season.
Is This The Parcells Retirement Tour? (Part III): In the offseason, he signed a contract extension through the 2007 season, but that was primarily to eliminate his status as a lame duck with his original four-year deal about to expire. He coached the Giants eight years, then spent four years with the Patriots and three with the Jets. I think the only reason Parcells didn't fight Jerry Jones on the Owens signing was because he knows this is his final season and Owens gives him a better chance to win the Super Bowl than his friend Keyshawn Johnson, who was cut to make room.
Will Drew Bledsoe Fold In The Final Two Minutes? Here's why the Giants will win a close game. Bledsoe will throw an interception in the final minute for the third time this season to end a Cowboys rally. He's in his 14th season but still makes rookie mistakes. Eli Manning, in his third season, can be trusted more with the game on the line.
Giants 24, Cowboys 23.
Will the Giants Be Taking Jump Shots? They sacked Michael Vick seven times last week and continued their new jump-shot celebration. They'll shoot four jumpers tomorrow night, even if they have to tone it down by eliminating the group shootaround. Only one jump shooter at a time.
What Does T.O. Have In Mind For Prime Time? He's done the Sharpie thing, waved pom-poms, danced on the Texas Stadium star, imitated Ray Lewis, had Nicollette Sheridan jump into his arms. Maybe he will dump the water bucket on Parcells if the Cowboys win.
The one thing the Giants, Eagles and Redskins have in common is their warm feelings for the Cowboys.
"I don't like them. I probably never will," said Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington, who spent the first six years of his career with the Redskins. "I don't care for them. Just playing against them for so long, you develop a healthy dislike for them."
The Giants finish their first run through the NFC East tomorrow night at Texas Stadium. If they can follow up victories over the Redskins and Falcons and beat the Cowboys, they will accomplish two things: reestablishing themselves as Super Bowl contenders and being 3-0 in the division with road victories in Philly and Dallas.
"The Cowboys are not one of my favorite teams," running back Brandon Jacobs said. "I don't like anybody in the league if it's not the Giants."
Dallas has forever been considered an arrogant organization that thinks a little too highly of itself and flaunts the America's Team label. But the Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1996, the longest stretch in team history. Just six other teams, not counting the 1999 expansion Browns and 2002 expansion Texans, have a current streak of at least that long.
The Cowboys have become the most entertaining show in the NFL primarily because you never know what Terrell Owens is going to do next and when Bill Parcells will finally lose his temper with him. "When (Owens) is happy, everybody around him is happy," Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "When he's not, nobody is happy. It's like a marriage."
Here are the five most intriguing Giants-Cowboys storylines:
The First Stop On The Tiki Barber Farewell Tour: He's leaving after this season and retiring on his own terms. He's earned that right. But how many athletes make a retirement announcement in the middle of the season, especially when their team is on a roll and days away from a crucial game? Barber should have used better judgment and waited until after the season instead of creating a distraction that could last the entire season.
Is This The Parcells Retirement Tour? (Part III): In the offseason, he signed a contract extension through the 2007 season, but that was primarily to eliminate his status as a lame duck with his original four-year deal about to expire. He coached the Giants eight years, then spent four years with the Patriots and three with the Jets. I think the only reason Parcells didn't fight Jerry Jones on the Owens signing was because he knows this is his final season and Owens gives him a better chance to win the Super Bowl than his friend Keyshawn Johnson, who was cut to make room.
Will Drew Bledsoe Fold In The Final Two Minutes? Here's why the Giants will win a close game. Bledsoe will throw an interception in the final minute for the third time this season to end a Cowboys rally. He's in his 14th season but still makes rookie mistakes. Eli Manning, in his third season, can be trusted more with the game on the line.
Giants 24, Cowboys 23.
Will the Giants Be Taking Jump Shots? They sacked Michael Vick seven times last week and continued their new jump-shot celebration. They'll shoot four jumpers tomorrow night, even if they have to tone it down by eliminating the group shootaround. Only one jump shooter at a time.
What Does T.O. Have In Mind For Prime Time? He's done the Sharpie thing, waved pom-poms, danced on the Texas Stadium star, imitated Ray Lewis, had Nicollette Sheridan jump into his arms. Maybe he will dump the water bucket on Parcells if the Cowboys win.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:37 AM
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