Former NFL player takes red carpet gig from Ryan Seacrest

Fox will formally announce Friday that this will be an appropriate question on its Super Bowl pregame show: Who are you wearing? As in, which designer. A former NFL star has taken the celeb greeting gig away from Ryan Seacrest.

Three NFL teams accounted for 20% of online “buzz”

According to NM Incite, a division of Nielsen Media, three teams—the Cowboys, Vikings and Giants—accounted for 20.4% of the online “buzz” this season, which reflects blogs, blog comments, message boards, groups, Twitter and video sites. — Wall Street Journal

Lawyer to fight Lawrence Taylor becoming sex offender

Lawrence Taylor’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said he would argue at the March hearing against Taylor’s having to register as a Level 1, or low-risk, sex offender

NYC ladies like to party with Knicks more than Giants

Do the ladies prefer to party with Knicks or Giants? According to a highly unscientific report from the front lines at Greenhouse, it’s a slam-dunk for the Knicks. A clubgoer tells us a group of Knicks that included Ronny Turiaf, Roger Mason Jr., Toney Douglas, Landry Fields and Raymond Felton arrived at the SoHo hot spot after their victory against the Spurs and were soon “balling out” with more than 15 hotties crowded around and more trying to make it past security. The Giants crew of Antrel Rolle, Keith Bulluck and Victor Cruz didn’t fare so well. Our source says they attracted “ike, three or four hot girls at a time.” — NY Daily News

NFL coach tells critics to kiss his ass

New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin tells his players during a post game speech that critics can line up and kiss his ass after 10-6 season.  (:35 seconds for good stuff)

Defensive player has NFL’s top selling jersey

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu sold the most jerseys this season, according to NFLShop.com. It’s the first time since Continue reading

Former Super Bowl hero thinks NFL players should consider strike

With a possible NFL lockout just two months away, former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce has a bold suggestion for current players: Strike first. Continue reading

Former NFL head coach to UConn?

Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and Boston College defensive coordinator Bill McGovern, a Bergen County native, are included in the speculation Continue reading

NFL player tops list of rising sports stars

Green Bay Packers’ running back John Kuhn has earned the top spot on the list of Rising Sports Stars to watch in the month of January. Kuhn scored three touchdowns in Green Bay’s Dec. 26 win against the New York Giants and has emerged as a fan favorite, gaining notice for key downs and special teams play. Kuhn’s popularity has increased 79% over the past 30 days, and cheers for “KUUUUUUUHN” ring out when he carries the ball. Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints and Brandon Bass of the Orlando Magic round out the top three. Continue reading

Giants to hire head coach in waiting?

On the subject of John Fox, if the soon to be former Panthers coach does not get a head coaching job this go-round, there are rumblings that he could be headed back  Continue reading

Falcons getting lots of help from refs

  • The Falcons have picked up 39 first downs thanks to penalty, an extraordinarily high number, and allowed just 13 on penalty. This is one of the reasons they’re winning while getting outgained easily on an average down (5.0 yards per play for vs. 5.6 yards per play against).
  • Continue reading

Giants have 14% chance to make playoffs?

Projections for all key playoffs scenarios based upon Week 17 game odds. Las Vegas odds are an unmatched predictor of game outcomes, thus playoff projections derived from them are the most accurate possible!

(calculated by RJ Bell of Pregame.com)

Steelers win division? 74% odds
Scenario: Steelers win (68%) OR Ravens lose (19%)

Colts win division? 91% odds
Scenario: Colts win (82%) OR Jags lose (50%)

GB makes playoffs? 84% odds
Scenario: Packers win (79%) OR both Giants and Bucs lose (26%)

Giants make playoffs? 14% odds
Scenario: Giants win (66%) AND Packers lose (21%)

Bucs make playoffs? 2% odds
Scenario: Bucs win (24%) AND both Giants and Packers lose (7%)

Falcons win division? 93% odds
Scenario: Falcons win (91%) OR Saints lose (24%)

NFL West winner?
Winner of game advances: Rams 58%, Seattle 42%

Eagles Michael Vick 36% worse in cold weather games

The Eagles took a big step last week toward securing home-field advantage for at least one playoff game. Their problem is that quarterback Michael Vick has played very poorly in subfreezing weather. Continue reading

Franchise legend calls Giants soft

Former Giants great and current FOX analyst Michael Strahan leveled the team for blowing a 31-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter on Sunday. “I’m not apologizing for that, they should be ashamed of themselves,” Strahan said in comments distributed by the network. “You look at that game and wonder how it got out of hand for the Giants. They got soft and relaxed. They thought ‘we got it.’ With eight minutes to go, they’re up by 21 and give up an easy touchdown to Brent Celek and all of a sudden the blitzes looked like ‘whoever gets there gets there’ [lackadaisical] instead of ‘I’m going to make that play and not wait for someone to make that play. Then when it came time to pick it up, they couldn’t. The end of the game was fitting because you don’t let a team back in when you’re up like that.” — Newsday

NFL coach sits in dark room for 2 1/2 hours after tough loss

Long after the Giants had suffered one of the biggest collapses in franchise history, Tom Coughlin sat in a darkened room inside his home, alone with his thoughts as he attempted to deal with the fallout. “I sat in a room with the lights out for about 2½ hours,” Coughlin said Monday in the wake of Sunday’s humiliating 38-31 loss to the Eagles, in which the Giants surrendered 28 unanswered points in the final 7:28. When he told reporters about this somewhat haunting behavior, which he apparently has engaged in after other difficult losses, there was a good deal of laughter. It was almost as if everyone thought Coughlin was joking. He wasn’t. “It’s not funny,” he said. “It’s not the way it’s supposed to be. What was I going to do, join in on [the] festivities?” Someone asked Coughlin if he talks to anyone in particular to bounce ideas off after a loss. Evidently, he doesn’t. “My wife [Judy] ignores me, and I don’t have a dog,” he cracked. — Newsday

Colts have NFL’s best offensive line

The New York Life Protection Index was created by sports information leader STATS to provide a composite gauge for this undervalued component of the game. While the New York Life Protection Index is calculated using a proprietary formula, the fundamentals are comprised of the length of a team’s pass attempts combined with penalties by offensive linemen, sacks allowed and quarterback hurries and knockdowns. The New York Life Protection Index is updated weekly throughout the regular season. — Stats Inc.

  1. Colts 90.6
  2. Saints 81.4
  3. Giants 79.9
  4. Falcons 78.3
  5. Patriots 74.4
  6. Texnas 71.5
  7. Broncos 71.1
  8. Cowboys 71.0
  9. Lions 68.1
  10. Chargers 68.0
  11. Bengals 68.0
  12. Seahawks 66.7
  13. Packers 66.1
  14. Jets 65.9
  15. Titans 65.2
  16. Dolphins 64.8
  17. Ravens 63.4
  18. Rams 61.4
  19. Bucs 59.5
  20. Bills 59.0
  21. Browns 57.9
  22. Chiefs 55.2
  23. Cardinals 53.8
  24. Vikings 52.0
  25. Redskins 51.0
  26. Eagles 48.6
  27. Jaguars 45.2
  28. 49ers 45.1
  29. Steelers 44.9
  30. Panthers 42.6
  31. Raiders 39.0
  32. Bears 29.6

Bill Cowher wants NFC East job?

There is no question that Bill Cowher’s first choice would be a job in New York, but there’s no opening now unless the Giants fade down the stretch and miss the playoffs. Tom Coughlin has one year remaining on his contract. — Fox Sports

Ralph Lauren model supports both NY NFL teams

Tyson Beckford dressed from head to toe in New York Giants apparel — but with a Jets key chain hanging from his belt — at the Joseph Abboud VIP suite at the Meadowlands. — NY Post

Bengals Terrell Owens copyrights “I Love Me Some Me”

Jets CB Darrelle Revis is among a number of athletes who are seeking federal trademark protection for their names, nicknames and even their catchphrases. The slogans come in all varieties: trash-talking (“Stomp You Out,” claimed by the former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan); self-aggrandizing (“I Love Me Some Me,” registered by Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens); self-deprecating (“Manny Being Manny,” claimed, and later abandoned, by the baseball slugger Manny Ramirez); and just plain weird (“Got Strange?” registered by Vikings defensive end Jared Allen). Owens wrote a children’s book, had a breakfast cereal named for him, made guest appearances on several television shows and commercials, and in 2009 starred in a VH1 reality show, “The T. O. Show.” In addition to registering “I Love Me Some Me,” he has also sought protection for “Getcha Popcorn Ready” and a logo featuring his initials, T. O. — NY Times

NFL legend signs autographs outside courthouse, before rape case

Lawrence Taylor just made his way into court to deal with his ongoing statutory rape case – but not before signing an autograph for a NY Giants fan! Taylor — who was arrested back in May for allegedly performing a sex act with a 16-year-old prostitute — pled not guilty in July to charges of rape, criminal sexual act, sexual abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, and patronizing a prostitute. — TMZ

NFL star compares booing players to booing soldiers coming home from Iraq

Antrel Rolle admits that he is a “bigmouth” and is unapologetic about it. Thursday, however, the Giants’ safety put his foot in that mouth and had to issue a scripted apology shortly after he compared his teammates to American troops returning from Iraq. In an attempt to defend ripping Giants fans Tuesday for booing the team, Rolle said: “They want to make it that guys paid this much money for a ticket. Yeah, I understand that, I understand completely. We risk ourselves out there on the field each and every day also. When soldiers come home from Iraq you don’t boo them. I look at it the same way. I take my job seriously.” Later, in a statement released by the team, Rolle said: “I used a very poor, inappropriate example earlier today to demonstrate how seriously I take my job.” — NY Daily News

Browns Peyton Hillis joins Rams legend in NFL record book

·        Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan led the Falcons to a 20-17 win over Green Bay.  With the victory, Ryan improved to 19-1 (.950) in his career as the starter at home, tying Danny White for the best winning percentage in a player’s first 20 starts at home among QBs who began their careers in the Super Bowl era (since 1966). Ryan completed 24 of 28 passes for an 85.7 completion percentage, the 11th time in NFL history in which a quarterback posted a completion percentage of at least 85.7 with 28 or more attempts in a game.

·        Cleveland running back Peyton Hillis rushed for 131 yards with three touchdowns and added six receptions for 63 yards in the Browns’ 24-23 victory over Carolina. Hillis joins Marshall Faulk (September 17, 2000) as the only players in NFL history to record at least 130 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, six receptions and 60 receiving yards in a single game.  Hillis has 11 rushing touchdowns this year and joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly as the only Browns to rush for at least 11 touchdowns in a season.

·        Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson had nine receptions in the Texans’ 20-0 win over Tennessee. Johnson has 65 catches this year and is the first player in NFL history to record at least 60 receptions in each of his first eight seasons.

·        Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler threw four touchdown passes in the Bears’ 31-26 victory over Philadelphia, his third game as a Bear with four TD passes.  Cutler joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Sid Luckman (four times) and Billy Wade (three) as the only Bears to throw four or more touchdowns in a game at least three times.

·        Kansas City wide receiver Dwayne Bowe had 13 catches for 170 yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 42-24 win at Seattle. Bowe joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (October 14, 1990 and December 18, 1995) and Jimmy Smith (September 10, 2000) as the only players since 1990 to record at least 13 catches, 170 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions in a game.

·        New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning played in his 100th career game and completed 14 of 24 passes for 226 yards with two touchdowns in the Giants’ 24-20 win over Jacksonville. Manning holds franchise records for the most completions (1,838), attempts (3,169), passing yards (21,465) and passing touchdowns (148) in a player’s first 100 games as a Giant.

·        Cleveland rookie cornerback Joe Haden had an interception in the Browns’ win over Carolina, marking the third consecutive game he has recorded an interception.  He is the first Browns player with an interception in three consecutive games in his first NFL season since Bernie Parrish in 1959.

Source: National Football League

NFL legend’s girlfriend owes nearly $215k in back taxes

Nicole Murphy has run out of bounds with the IRS. According to public records, the IRS filed liens for $210,957 and $3,731 against the girlfriend of former New York Giant Michael Strahan on Oct. 6, for taxes owed from 2005 through 2008. Nicole divorced ex-husband Eddie Murphy in 2006, and reportedly received a $15 million settlement. She owns a 9,200-square-foot Spanish estate in Calabasas, Calif., which is for sale for about $7 million. Murphy didn’t respond to an e-mail for comment. — NY Post

Giants Eli Manning is fumble machine

Giants quarterback Eli Manning, constantly compared to his quarterbacking brother on the Indianapolis Colts, leads Peyton Manning in one unsung career statistic: fumbles. Eli Manning has 59 fumbles in 99 career regular-season games. Peyton Manning has 57 in 202. “Not good,” Eli Manning said last week when this nugget was pointed out to him. Quarterbacks dominate the list of career fumblers. The first nonquarterbacks on the list are Franco Harris and Tony Dorsett, tied for 20th, with 90 each. How many of the fumbles are lost to the other team is more difficult to ascertain. The N.F.L. tracks fumbles and fumble recoveries, but not fumbles lost. Warren Moon, for example, entered this season with more fumbles than anyone else, 161. (He has been passed by Brett Favre, who has 165.) Moon is the career leader in fumbles recovered: 56, all his own. According to the Giants, the team has lost 27 of Manning’s 59 fumbles. The ratio is worsening; 13 of his 20 fumbles the past two seasons ended up with the other team.  — NY Times

Eagles Michael Vick odds improve for MVP

Odds to win the 2010 NFL MVP

…………………………………..LAST WEEK                 THIS WEEK

Peyton Maninng (IND) QB           7/2                                4/1


Philip Rivers (SD) QB                 15/2                              7/1


Aaron Rodgers (GB) QB             15/2                              15/2


Arian Foster (HOU) RB               8/1                                16/1


Drew Brees (NO) QB                  10/1                              12/1


Tom Brady (NE) QB                   10/1                              9/2


Chris Johnson (TEN) RB             10/1                              18/1

Adrian Peterson (MIN) RB           15/1                              20/1

Michael Vick (PHI) QB               25/1                              5/1

Clay Matthews (GB) LB              25/1                              20/1

Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG) RB       25/1                              30/1

Roddy White (ATL) WR              50/1                              40/1

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) WR          50/1                              50/1

Field                                         2/1                                3/1

Source: Bodog

Giants closing in on NFL record

The Giants haven’t scored a first-possession TD in their last 11 games. That’s the NFL’s second- longest streak. Buffalo is first with 16 straight games. — Philadelphia Daily News

NFL superfan has assault charges dismissed

“Fireman” Ed Anzalone, 51, a retired FDNY member, found himself in hot water during an exhibition game on Aug,. 16. As he stood up on his chanting post at Section 134 of the New Meadowlands Stadium, Anzalone was interrupted by Giants fan Christopher Black, 29, of Tinton Falls. As Black raised his Giants hat, Anzalone reportedly shoved Black before he was escorted away from the area and eventually out of the stadium. A YouTube video of the scuffle quickly went viral. Black filed a simple assault complaint against Anzalone in East Rutherford Municipal Court. But he would not be without more troubles. Black was escorted out of the stadium, but reluctantly, as State Police charged him with disorderly conduct. Anzalone was scheduled to appear in municipal court on Oct. 20. Then the case was rescheduled for Nov. 10, but was dismissed, a court official confirmed. At his McKenzie Street home, Anzalone refused to speak to a reporter. However, his attorney, Jon Lomurro, discussed his case. “Everybody agreed to put this behind,” said Lomurro, reached at his Freehold office. “Time heals all wounds.” — Bergen Record

Terminator advises NFL rivals to get on HBO

Jet fullback John Connor recommended the Giants use television to raise their profile at the grand opening of the Hoboken outpost of the Village Pourhouse sports bar. Multiple guests at the bar recognized “The Terminator” from HBO’s documentary “Hard Knocks,” which focused on the Jets dur ing training camp. According to our spy, when Connor no ticed Giant players Matt Dodge and Jonathan Goff sit ting across from him but not getting nearly as much atten tion, he said, “Y’all just gotta do some HBO!” NY Post

NFL broadcaster was spitter during career

No doubt Michael Strahan was speaking from experience on Fox’s pregame. Commenting on Channing Crowder’s allegation that Baltimore’s Le’Ron McClain spit in his face, Strahan said: “That (spitting) is the lowest disrespect you can show someone.” That was the “message” Strahan sent to ESPN’s Kelly Naqi in 2006 when he spit particles of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich in her face during a locker-room tirade. — NY Daily News

NFL legend wants to cut child support for ill daughter

Football legend Lawrence Taylor is trying to sack his chronically ill out-of-wedlock daughter — asking a New Jersey judge to slash his monthly support payments to the child, The Post has learned. Taylor — who’s awaiting a criminal trial for allegedly having sex with an underage hooker — wants to cut as much as $500 off his estimated $1,825-a-month payment for daughter Erielle, now 12, according to her mom, Ebony Washington.
Taylor made the move after Washington, 36, filed in Bergen County family court to increase her $456-a-week support deal with the former grid great. Part of the money, she said, would go toward Erielle’s unreimbursed medical expenses. The “bubbly, outgoing” sixth-grader — who has never been publicly acknowledged by her famous dad — this year was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a debilitating intestinal illness that has no cure.
Taylor, 51, didn’t score any points yesterday with judge Peter J. Melchionne when he failed to show up for a mandatory hearing. — NY Post

NFL’s least shown team has been seen in just 2.9 states a week

The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings have a combined 4-12 record and roughly zero chance to make the postseason. But lucky you, they’ve been on your television nearly every weekend this season.

A look at every NFL team shows the Vikings, on average, have been broadcast in a league-leading 38.3 states each week they play, edging the Cowboys by 0.4. The Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles round out the top five, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are last at 2.9 states a week, according to The506.com, a website that uses local listings to track where teams are broadcast.

Most Shown NFL Teams during Weeks 1-10

TEAM…………..TOTAL STATES…… Per-Week Avg.

  1. Vikings…………. 345……..………………38.3
  2. Cowboys…………341…………………….37.9
  3. Colts……………..296……………………..32.9
  4. Giants…………….291…………………….32.3
  5. Eagles…………….284…………………….31.6
  6. Packers…………..281…………………….31.2
  7. Patriots……………280……………………31.1
  8. Jets………………..268…………………….29.8
  9. Redskins………….251………………..….27.9
  10. Dolphins………….229……………………25.4

Least Shown NFL Teams during Weeks 1-10

  1. Buccaneers……….26…………………….2.9
  2. Rams………………32……………………..3.6
  3. Bills………………..34……………………..3.8
  4. Browns…………….36……………………..4.0
  5. Raiders……………..39…………………….4.3
  6. Cardinals……………52……………………5.8
  7. Lions………………..57…………………….6.3
  8. Seahawks………….70……………………..7.8
  9. Panthers……………84……………………..9.3
  10. Jaguars……………105……………………11.7

Source: Wall Street Journal

NFL has most balance since 1981

For the first time since 1981, no NFL team has fewer than two losses midway thought the season. Las Vegas Sports Consultants provides wagering lines to Las Vegas sports books, and the odds to win Super Bowl XLV have more teams than usual at low odds. Here they are: Steelers the 6-to-1 favorite; Giants, Jets, Patriots and Ravens each 7-to-1; Colts, Packers and Saints each 8-to-1; Falcons 9-to-1; Eagles 18-to-1; Vikings 25-to-1; Chiefs 30-to-1; Bears, Chargers and Titans each 35-to-1 (very tempting); Dolphins, Redskins and Texans each 50-to-1; Buccaneers, 49ers, Rams and Seahawks each 60-to-1; Raiders 75-to-1; Cardinals 150-to-1; Bengals, Jaguars and Lions each 250-to-1; Broncos and Browns each 500-to-1; Cowboys 1,000-to-1; Panthers 3,000-to-1; and Bills 5,000-to-1. — Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

FOX protects TWO Packers games from flex scheduling

Fox Television has protected the Green Bay Packers’ games at Minnesota (Nov. 21) and home against the New York Giants (Dec. 26), according to an NFL source, meaning they can’t be moved to the NBC Sunday night prime time game as flex scheduling allows in Weeks 11-17. As part of the flex scheduling, Fox and CBS are allowed to “protect” five games each that can’t be moved to NBC’s prime time broadcast. That means Fox used two of its five protections on the Packers. — Green Bay Press-Gazette

Super Bowl winning QB and wife expecting first child

Giants quarterback Eli Manning is to become a dad, Page Six has learned. His wife, Abby, is expecting their first child, and sources say they are “so happy and excited.” Eli, 29, and Abby, 26, who have been married for 2½ years and live in Hoboken, are now preparing for the spring birth. A source told us, “They are both so happy and excited. Eli is being very protective of Abby, as it is still early days. Very few people know because Abby is only a few months along and isn’t really showing yet.” — NY Post

Lions have 31 players drafted in top 3 rounds

  • With seven interceptions already in 247 attempts, Donovan McNabb, who has the second-best interception percentage in NFL history, is averaging a pick every 35.3 passes this season. It’s the second-worst interception ratio of his career. As a rookie, he averaged a pick every 30.8 attempts.
  • The Giants’ Ahmad Bradshaw leads the league in rushing with 708 yards. The last time a Giants running back led the league in rushing was Eddie Price in 1951. Price won the rushing crown in the then 12-team NFL with 971 yards. The only other Giants running back to ever lead the league in rushing was Bill Paschal, who did it in ’42 and ’43.
  • Eagles tight end Brent Celek is tied with the Vikings’ Randy Moss for most dropped passes after 7 weeks. Celek and Moss both have six drops. Rams wideouts Danny Amendola and Brandon Graham, both ex-Eagles, are tied for third with five.
  • In his last four starts, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassell has thrown eight TD passes and just one interception. He has a 108.9 passer rating in those four games.
  • Thirty-one of the 53 players on the Lions roster were first-, second- or third-round draft picks, selected by the Lions or someone else. They’ve got 11 first-rounders, 10 second-rounders and 10 third-rounders.
  • There were 34 field goals of 50 yards or more in the first 7 weeks, which is the most since 1970. That’s an 83-field goal pace, which would shatter the existing record of 66 for 50-plus-yard field goals in a season set in 2008.
  • The Titans are 29th in the league in pass offense, averaging just 170.9 passing yards per game. But they’re fourth in passing efficiency with a 95.5 passer rating. – Philadelphia Daily News

Former Packers KR headed to Giants?

Will Blackmon, the former Packers defensive back and returner, worked out for the Giants Wednesday, according to the NFL’s daily transaction wire. The team didn’t announce a deal Wednesday afternoon and there are no indications they will announce anything in the evening, so it would appear Blackmon left without a contract, right? Wrong. Blackmon’s agent wrote via e-mail minutes ago he would comment on the situation Thursday. So it sounds as if his client is still in play with the team for now. — Newark Star-Ledger