They moved closer to the first-place Dallas Cowboys by beating them at home last week, and Dallas fell even further to New York by losing again, at home to San Diego, earlier in the day on Sunday.

So, it was there for the taking on Sunday night.

Follow up one big NFC East win over Dallas with another over the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Giants would regain the division lead they once held over both Dallas and Philadelphia after their very promising 5-0 start to the 2009 season.

However, it wasn’t meant to be.

The franchise that will go down as the winingest visiting team in the history of the current Giants Stadium, found yet another different way to defeat Big Blue at the Meadowlands, this time, in a 45-38 shootout, on Sunday night.

Although the Giants have certainly had the best of the Eagles during the course of one of the NFL’s best rivalries of all-time, the Eagles have found some very creative ways to break the hearts of Big Blue supporters at Giants Stadium over the years.

In 1978, it was Herman Edwards’ Miracle At The Meadowlands touchdown. Ten years and a day later, Clyde Simmons’ fumbling, game-winning score off of a Giants’ blocked field goal made Giants’ fans again shake their collective heads in heartbreaking disbelief. In 2003, it was Brian Westbrook’s 84-yard punt return with 1:16 left in the game which stole another late Giants Stadium win for the Eagles.

And, on Sunday night, in the 154th game between the Giants and Eagles, Philadelphia (9-4) scored, and scored, and scored some more, to hold off a prolific scoring effort by New York, in the highest scoring meeting ever between the two teams in their 76-year-old rivalry.

If anyone leading up to the game was still cringing and complaining over Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning’s poor performance or Plaxico Burress shooting himself out of the lineup in last year’s divisional home playoff loss to the Eagles, they weren’t pointing their fingers that way this time.

Although the Giants fumbled five times, losing four, while the Eagles turned the ball over just once, two of the lost fumbles didn’t matter, and the Giants put up enough offense to win had their defense not let them down like it has so many other times this season.

In a game which featured five touchdowns of 60 yards or more, New York amassed 512 yards of offense (outgaining the Eagles by 138 yards), controlled the ball for a healthy 34:46

Unlike last year’s playoffs, Giants fans can’t pin this one on Manning or on the offense he directed.

In fact, had the Giants’ defense shown up at all in any number of big spots, the game might have gone down as one of the best of Manning’s career. The Giants’ signal caller finished with a 130.5 passer rating, spreading the ball around to eight different receivers, completing 27 of 38 passes for a career-high 391 yards, while throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also led New York to 27 first downs (to Philadelphia’s 20) and a comeback from two different 14-point first-half deficits and a 13-point third-quarter hole, only to see the Giants’ inept defense immediately give the lead back for good later in the same period.

To put all of that in its proper perspective, the Giants’ 38 points marked the most they have ever scored in a home loss in their long and storied history, and it was their highest point total in any loss in 43 years, since a 49-40 defeat in Cleveland, in 1966. It was also the most points ever allowed in a loss by a Tom Coughlin-coached team.

In a game like this, you usually ask if anyone is capable of tackling, but even that’s difficult to do when you can’t get close enough because you’re putting virtually no pressure on the opposing quarterback, and covering wide open receivers even worse.

The Giants’ defense allowed the Eagles to open the game by marching 67 yards on six plays in 3:27 for a quick 7-0 lead.

Four plays later, the crazy Meadowlands luck of years past continued for the Eagles, when Giants’ running back Brandon Jacobs had the ball knocked free. Before hitting the ground, the ball hit the heel of Giants’ tight end Kevin Boss (who was blocking ahead of Jacobs), and caromed high to a waiting Sheldon Brown, who took it 60 yards the other way for a 14-0 Philadelphia lead just 5:20 into the game.

The Giants’ offense responded though with a drive for a Lawrence Tynes 26-yard field goal in the first quarter, and then 1:53 into the second period, Manning hit rookie Hakeem Nicks, who made a nice spin move to break a tackle and streak 68 yards for a touchdown to pull New York to within 14-10.

But then, the Giants’ defense allowed a twelve-play, 75-yard drive for a field goal before Big Blue’s special teams broke down, allowing the speedy DeSean Jackson to wait for the Giants’ coverage team to overrun him, turning seemingly nothing into a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown to put Philadelphia ahead, 24-10.

Once again, the Giants’ offense kept New York in the game. Manning led an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was finished by running back Ahmad Bradshaw’s 3-yard touchdown run, to get the Giants back to within 24-17 with 1:30 left in the opening half.

However, the Eagles then came right back on the Giants’ porous pass defense again. New York inexcusably allowed a 44-yard completion from quarterback Donovan McNabb (17-26, 275 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) with the Eagles facing a third-and-20 from their own 32-yard line.

Three plays later, McNabb found tight end Brent Celek for another 23-yard chunk of yardage, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by Michael Vick (PAT missed) ten seconds before the half, for a 30-17 halftime lead for the Eagles.

It was the second time in as many games against the Giants this season that the Eagles posted a 30-spot in the first half against New York. The Giants trailed 30-7 at the half in a 40-17 Week 8 loss in Philadelphia. The 85 combined points were the most any team has scored against the Giants in one season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, and that type of scoring allowed the first Eagles’ sweep of the Giants in five years.

The game also marked the first season since 1973 that the Giants have given up at least 40 points or more in at least three games.

Giants’ defensive end very bluntly admitted, “Our defense, we just played like crap. Our offense, for them to put up that many points, and we can’t come out with a victory, we just can’t have that.”

And still, the Giants’ offense wouldn’t let its team go away quietly in such a big divisional game.

New York took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 74 yards on eleven plays, with Manning completing a 23-yard pass to Boss and a 20-yarder to Nicks, to help set up a Jacobs one-yard touchdown plunge on fourth-and-goal, to draw the Giants to within 30-24.

Then, the Giants’ defense finally came through for a short while.

Linebacker Jonathan Goff intercepted McNabb, giving New York great field position at the Philadelphia 29-yard line, but Manning fumbled on a controversial call when he dove head first and the ground caused the ball to pop loose and be recovered at the Eagles’ 14-yard line.

The play didn’t hurt New York much though, because the Giants’ defense actually responded with, get this –- a three-and-out, and Manning took advantage right away, with a 61-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Domenik Hixon, to give the Giants their only lead of the game, 31-30, with 5:12 left in the third quarter.

That’s when the New York defense went from Big Blue to Big Bust again, allowing Philadelphia to regain the lead for good, 37-31, just 15 seconds later on a 60-yard touchdown pass from McNabb to Jackson, who not only torched the Giants for 178 yards on six catches, but he embarrassed them on that play, losing the New York secondary so badly, that he danced backwards into the end zone for the final few yards before scoring.

It was the eighth touchdown of 50 yards or more for Jackson, which tied an NFL record.

In the fourth quarter, the Giants, still down just six points, had Philadelphia backed up at its own 9-yard line after a good punt by Jeff Feagles.

So naturally, rather than getting the ball back with good field position for a Giants’ offense that was humming, the New York defense allowed a game-clinching twelve-play, 91-yard touchdown drive which ate up 7:24. And, for good measure, they allowed the ensuing two-point conversion, as well, putting Philadelphia ahead, 45-31.

The Giants’ offense still battled back, scoring on a four-yard Manning touchdown pass to Boss with 1:31 left, but an onside kick attempt failed, and the Eagles held on for their fourth straight win over the Giants and their third in a row over New York at Giants Stadium.

Prior to the Giant’s final touchdown, with 2:21 remaining and two timeouts left, the Mario Manningham just missed getting his left toe inbounds on what was very nearly a 28-yard touchdown catch from Manning.

Had that play been a touchdown, the Giants could have used the two-minute warning as a third timeout to get the ball back and score again to force overtime.

But, did that many in the building have any confidence that if that scenario took place, and the Giants needed a big stop, that the defense would actually come through?

The way it actually did play out, the Giants’ defense caused New York to miss a big opportunity.

And yet, the Giants might still have everything still set up okay. Maybe no longer to win the NFC East, but at least, to make the playoffs, since Dallas is in the midst of its annual December swoon, started by that Giants’ victory over the Cowboys last week.

New York (7-6) trails Dallas (8-5) by a game in the standings, but it holds the tiebreaker having swept the Cowboys this season, and the Giants appear to have a significantly more manageable schedule over the final three weeks of the regular season.

A disappointed yet realistic Coughlin said, “We still have a lot to play for.”

Meanwhile, Tuck said, “That’s what thing I know about this team. We won’t ever quit.”

After losing another game to the Eagles, the Giants can’t afford to.

After a 3-1 start and playing the role as team harmony, the Jets hierarchy must feel as if they have enough positive qualities to quell any malcontents. A little thin at wide receiver, general manager Mike Tannenbaum has been actively working the phones trying to bring in a number one target for rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.

During the summer, he allegedly made an inquiry about trading for Brandon Marshall of the Broncos, who did everything possible to get himself thrown off the team. The Jets were also investigating the possibility of giving Plaxico Burress a look before he was sentenced to jail time for illegal gun possession. Then the 49ers accused the Jets of tampering with their unsigned number one draft pick Michael Crabtree, who was holding out and looking for an outrageously large contract.

The latest wideout on their radar screen was Braylon Edwards of the Browns, who has never endeared himself to the fans or either of his two head coaches, Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini. Tannenbaum had been making inquiries about the former Michigan Wolverine and finally landed him, albeit after Edwards’s latest incident when he was reported to have punched a friend of LeBron James early Monday morning outside a Cleveland nightclub.

In exchange for the mercurial receiver, the Jets sent wideout Chansi Stuckey, linebacker/special teams standout Jason Trusnick and two undisclosed draft picks, rumored to be third and fifth round selections.

“They’ve (the Jets) got a lot going on right now,” said Edwards. “(Mark) Sanchez is doing a good job as a rookie and just playing on the opposite side of Jericho Cotchery… [he] is a great receiver. I’ve watched him some time obviously being a friend of Kerry Rhodes. He makes some plays and makes things happen.”

Rex Ryan has already announced that Edwards will be in the starting line-up in the Jets next game, a Monday night affair in Miami. “He better be,” the Jets head coach said in response to a question if his new receiver will be ready. “Here we go. He’s going to be out there one way or the other.”

If he wants to endear himself to his new teammates and fans, then Edwards needs to cut down on his dropped passes. In 2008, he was ‘credited’ with 16, a number that will get him run out of town in New York. Edwards’s best year came in 2007 when he started all 16 games for the Browns and had 80 receptions for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns, good enough to get him named to the Pro Bowl. So far this season, he had 10 catches for 139 yards through the Browns first four games, all losses.

For Edwards to return to his form of two years ago, he needs to stay on the field. Any potential injuries aside, the NFL still needs to investigate the incident last weekend and disciplinary action could be forthcoming.

“Between all the facts we were able to gather, understanding the league policy and giving all of the information that we had, we have a good understanding of what we think happened and understanding if and when there is discipline, the timeline of that,” said Tannenbaum. “Given all of those variables, as best we could factored into that decision, we were comfortable making the decision that we did.”

Edwards certainly has a bigger upside and the trade was one that – if he produces – will be viewed as a steal. It is entirely up to him. If he becomes a distraction, then it was a gamble not worth taking.

A fresh start as far as coaching goes didn’t work for Edwards in Cleveland. Will it work in New York? We will find out in the coming weeks.

Why?

They have so many players that can produce offensively that It’s sickening. They should be averaging over 35 points per game instead of 27. Quarterback Eli Manning still has quality receivers and tight ends to catch the ball. No one really misses Jeremy Shockey anymore either since Kevin Boss came into his own. So then why can’t Big Blue get more love inside the 20?  With Steve Smith and Mario Manningham emerging as legitimate downfield threats, and the depth behind them beginning to contribute as well, we have to begin to look at the play calling.

If offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and quarterback coach Chris Palmer – who have both been coaching a very long time – have to know that they need better scoring production. Every other NFL defense knows Brandon Jacobs is coming on second and short and third and short situations. Like the playoff game last year, when Jacobs was pyle-driven to the ground on several short yardage situations, the entire free world knew when he was running between the guards Sunday night.

If Eli would be allowed to freelance a few more play fakes every game the defenses would have to run a little less “8-men in the box” alignments and keep a few more defensive backs In the game on the short yardage situations. This would open up the corner routes and the crossing routes from the 25-yard line and in, and at least give the Giants a few more chances to score six instead of three points.

You can argue with me all you want that the Giants receivers are not that skilled yet, but Manningham looks like “White Shoes” Johnson when he “tight-ropes” up the side lines, and Smith runs a better down and in then Bobby Johnson ever did. Okay, so Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress were taller then most receivers and Burress created mismatches everywhere he ran to on the field. Yet, it’s  Toomer’s leadership ability that New York misses the most right now. The lack of a veteran presence in the receiver corps has not stopped their growth as players. So again, why are the Giants only averaging 26 points per game?

I have come to the conclusion that it is less an Issue with the players then it is with the play calling. Until the Giants diversify their offensive game plan to use all of their skill players equall, they will “telegraph” their every move to the opposing defenses, and you will see lots of scoring left on the field.

Gone forever are the two receivers Manning could most count on over the past several years when protection would break down, when he had to complete key third and short plays, and when his own erratic throwing usually kept his completion percentage on the wrong side of  55%, considered the minimum efficiency level for winning football. In Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, Manning was fortunate to be able to lean on proven NFL stars while he was in the learning stages of his career. Manning, always a somewhat erratic thrower of the football had at his disposal tall, strong, fast, and poised pass-catchers who could make him look better than he actually played. Even when Eli’s passes were flying all over windy Giants Stadium in November and December games, the 6′6″ Burress and the 6’3” Toomer could leap over shorter corners or to out-muscle defenders who simply couldn’t match up with their size, speed, and catching ability.

Having veterans the stature of Burress and Toomer took a lot of the pressure off of  young Manning during his formative years but, now they’re gone and so far, as we observe the current group of youngsters comprising the Giants receiving corps and the chemistry that has yet to develop between the now six-year veteran Manning and these youngsters, we are beginning to think this season could become an enormous struggle for the Giants to move the chains via the air.

Now, this isn’t such a terrible thing when you have guys like Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw running the football behind what is arguably the league’s best offensive line. Of course, should anything happen to Jacobs, expected to be a true workhorse this season, the running game will then fall onto the not-so-broad shoulders of Bradshaw, who is still unproven in many respects. And then, the potential for catastrophe will be great as it will fall on the passing game to carry the Giants offense and quite frankly, the hopes of their 2009 season.

Is this an overreaction to a couple of potential nicks or injuries to the running game? Uh, no, it isn’t. Let’s take a look at Manning and how his receivers stack up for this season.

The projected starters are Dominick Hixon and Steve Smith. Hixon, for two years now has played his most stunning football during pre-season games when he exploded with huge games both in catching the ball and in returning the ball on special teams, mostly against players who were getting cut the next day by their teams. When given the opportunity to play almost every offensive down last season when Burress was out of action, Hixon didn’t distinguish himself nor did opposing defenses respect him with double teams or rotations to his side.

Smith is a very nice receiver, more of a possession guy who has hands of glue and the poise of a veteran. He runs great routes and is as reliable a target as Toomer was. Only problem with Smith, he’s never possessed the type of speed necessary in the NFL to stretch defenses, to be effective in the vertical game that is so crucial to the Giants offensive objections this season. I asked him the other day what his 40 yard dash time was. He told me, “Well, in college, I ran a 4.5.” He looked at me at the same time I looked at him, both of us fully aware he had answered the question with a three year old time when he was a college junior. We laughed about it but the reality is, his lack of deep speed is not a laughing matter for the Giants.

Neither Hixon nor Smith demand double teams or rotations to help out cornerbacks assigned to cover them on deep patterns, It ‘s all single coverage for each of these Giant receivers, a very bad happenstance because it allows defenses to put an extra player in the box to play the run or to rush Manning with an extra blitzer.

It’s an old saying but it holds true today as much as when it was first used during the last millenium. You cannot teach speed. You can teach disciplined routes, blocking technique, improved catching skills, and reading coverages as a receiver makes his way downfield. But, you can’t teach speed. Steve Smith is a great guy. I’ve liked him since the day he stepped into the Giants locker room as a rookie but Smith will never scare opposing defenses with his ability to get behind them. Bob Hayes, he is not.

Behind Smith and Hixon are the still-unproven but young veterans, Sinorice Moss, Santana’s oft-injured and unproductive little brother and Mario Manningham, the Giants fifth round draft choice from the University of Michigan last year. Between them, they have a grand total of seven catches in the NFL.

The Giants, no dummies, drafted two receivers this year to help fill the void left by the losses of Burress and Toomer. They drafted a player from that football factory, Cal-Poly by the name of Ramses Barden. He is almost a clone of Burress in physical stature, standing 6′6″ and weighing 225 solid pounds. Of course, we have no idea if Barden can hold onto the football when he gets into a game or if he can run routes properly but he certainly is tall enough to elicit comparisons to Burress. Unfortunately, height and weight doesn’t make the player. In the NBA, there have been many 6′6″ small, athletic forwards who have come into the league since Michael Jordan retired but none of them have approached the performance of Jordan despite sharing the same physical attributes.  Burress was a very special player, one of the best in the game. If I’m a betting man, Ramses Barden is not going to be as good as his predecessor, despite his physical attributes. The Giants hope he can be a situational receiver, using his height and strength to outfight defenders for the football in the red zone and in short-yardage downs.

The Giants first pick in the 2009 draft was an acclaimed receiver from the University of North Carolina, Hakeem Nicks. In college, Nicks was a sure-handed, physical, tough player who could break free from college cornerbacks and get open as well as run for yardage after his catches. Nicks looks to have NFL-quality talent and could be a useful player in the Giants attack. The problem is, how many first-year receivers become impact players in their rookie seasons? The answer: very, very few.

Finally, we get to Manning himself. This is his team now, of that, there is no doubt. It was his team before the 139 million dollar contract and he is most assuredly in charge of this offense now, more than ever. He’s won a Super Bowl and that will never be taken away from him but he still remains, a quarterback with flaws, particularly as a passer. He is still throwing wild high here in Albany and not yet showing the capacity to turn into an instinctive, gifted NFL passer along the lines of his brother Peyton, Brady, Drew Brees, or Carson Palmer. Manning does have a solid pedigree of coming from behind in the last quarters of games but he also has the pedigree of playing miserable football for three quarters before the comebacks commence. And, of course, he’s got the Super Bowl championship.

But, it’s a new year and this training camp is crucial to whether Manning and his young, unproven receivers will develop the necessary chemistry to be a force this year. Passing attacks at this level are incredibly complex, dependent on experienced receivers to be on the same page with their quarterback in understanding down and distance, reading coverages and changing patterns on the fly when coverage dictates. Will these next four weeks of camp here in Albany bring about the type of chemistry it took Manning several years to develop with Toomer and Burress? It’s doubtful which is why you should expect the running corps of Jacobs, Bradshaw and new addition, Danny Ware to be very busy players, especially in the early stages of this season.

A lot of Jets players think it’s a great idea for the team to go after ex-Giant  receiver Plaxico Burress. Newsflash: He’s going to be in jail for at least a few months if not more. He turned down a plea deal that would have limited his jail time to 60 days, plus 1,500 hours of community service. But Plax balked at the idea because it seems he is deathly afraid of serving time on Rikers Island. Sorry Plax, they don’t put player’s numbers on the back of correctional facility jumpsuits. The Jets players (and fans!) have yet to factor into the equation that Mr. Goodell will also suspend him for play as well. Just ask Mike Vick, because he’ll be playing in the UFL this year. Plax is due in court this coming Monday.

Down I-95, it looks like the Eagles finally have shown Donovan McNabb some love, but only so much. Reports are that he has a $ 5.3 million raise, but no extension past 2010. This is surely because of a lack of a new CBA between the players and the NFL. You can be sure no veteran players will earn long extensions  until the new deal is in place. Translation: Donovan, you have two seasons to win or find somewhere else to whine about losing.

Out in Minnesota, the Brett Farve waiting game continues. Did coach Brad Childress give Farve a deadline or not? Does it matter? If The “Farvelous” one wants to play, he will. His agent Bus Cook says “Brett is at a different level than most.” Which level is that? The level that he’s finally realized he should hang it up for good this time? Or the level that says ” I could still make a few dollars and be competitive for at least a few games.” Earth to Brett, come in Brett: please stop trying to embarrass yourself. We know you were one of the greatest ever to play the game. The sooner you retire the sooner you get the gold jacket and the bust in Canton.

REX GROSSMAN sighting!! Rex has been spotted in Houston Texas, where it is reported that he will compete for the third string QB job against Alex Brink, and behind Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky. Now you know why half the population of Houston roots for Dallas instead.

In Denver, head coach Josh McDaniels has named quarterback Kyle Orton the starter during the teams’ mini-camp. I had looked like it would be between Orton  and Chris Simms as to who would get the nod for the 2009 season. Orton was part of the Jay Cutler deal with the Bears.

Finally, we have reports that former all pro QB Trent Green retired late this week after 15 seasons. When interviewed by Foxsports.com Green said, “I feel this is finally the right time, I’ve talked about it with (the family) for a while, especially with the concussions over the last few years. We all felt it was the time to do it.”  Green returned to the St. Louis area where he was raised for the 2008 season. He also played for the Chargers, Redskins, Dolphins, and Chiefs over his career.

Toomer was a 13 year veteran and the Giants all time leading receiver with 580 receptions. While never really a “#1″ receiver in the true sense, Toomer was the Giants “Go-To” player at the position for many years when the focus was the running game, first with Rodney Hampton and then with Tiki Barber. The Giants also got some help from now New Orleans Saints Tight End Jeremey Shockey while he was here in the pass catching department. The Burress Story has been told countless times already, so i won’t chronicle it here again. It does seem worth mentioning that Plaxico was one of the vocal leaders of the offense, even more so since Tiki Barber’s departure after the 2006 season.

Now the veterans in the receiving corps are David Tyree, going into his 7th season in the NFL, followed by Sinorice Moss and Dominik Hixon, each with 4 seasons in Pro Football. While the offensive game plan may not change too much, which receivers get called for which plays might change somewhat. Surely Tyree makes the team again after his injury absence simply because of his veteran status and what he does on the specials. Then Steve Smith, because of his inside game, and his big play contributions since the second half of the 2007 season. Assuming that both Nicks and Barden have spots on the squad already because of their draft status, that’s already four of the six active roster spots. So you have Moss, Manningham, and Hixon. Three players going for the last two active roster spots. Seemingly Moss seems to be on the bubble here, given his overall lack of production last year. Unless someone gets hurt this summer, it might be a wrap for Santana’s little brother in Giants Blue. You will continue to see the “Bigger Guys” stretch the field with deep routes (Hixon, Barden & and Kevin Boss from the TE spot), while Smith, Nicks, and whomever survives between Moss and Manningham running the underneath routes.

On the Defensive side of the ball, the difference here will be the new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. Although he was promoted from within, Coach Sheridan has a long history as a college defensive position coach. This will be his 28th year in the coaching profession, but only his 4th in the NFL, and all 4 with New York. He was also promoted over defensive secondary coach Peter Giunta, who was the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl XXXIV champion St. Louis Rams.

I was a bit surprised to see Coach Sheridan get the nod as “DC” but if you looked at the sidelines the last three seasons when former “DC”  Steve Spagnoulo ran the show, Sheridan was usually next to him.

Sheridan has said he won’t make too many changes to the defensive game plan, but the Giants have “reloaded” their defensive front 7 with free agent arrivals Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty at the defensive tackle spot and Mike Boley at Linebacker, plus draftee Clint Stintum also at the linebacker spot. This will allow the defense to continue with it’s “whole line rotational concept” weather veteran Fred Robbins remains a Giant or not.

How much of these slight changes will you really see? RB Brandon Jacobs told us at the EA Sports NFL Draft event that the “Giants are a team built to win and ready to win now, not in 2010 or 2011.” It could just be possible that the biggest changes for the Giants could only be in the actual players and coaches, and not the playbook as much.

Barden also runs good pass patterns and will help stretch the defenses. 2nd round selection Clint Sintim is an LB from Virginia who will help with depth on the defense. The other #2 selection OT William Beatty, will help the depth on an aging offensive line. 4th round choice TE Travis Beckum of Wisconsin will make the team simply because he will cost less then at least one of Kevin Boss’s back ups. 5th round choice Rhett Bomar was a stand out QB at Oklaholma, but was dismissed for rules violations and finished his last two years at Sam Houston State. RB Andre Brown, and CB’s DeAndre Wright, and Stoney Woodson will at least get into camp. Grade: B

The rest of the NFC:

Eagles: 7 Picks. Although Philly adds three quality starters in Maclin (Rd1), RB LeSean McCoy (Rd2), and TE Cornelius Ingram (Rd3), but little else after that. These three will contribute, and Maclin will be a star in the NFL like his new teammate DeSean Jackson. Ingram needs to improve run blocking. Grade B-

Cowboys: 12 picks. A half grade off for trading out of round 2 when they already gave up round one choice. LB Jason Williams, OT Robert Brewster, and QB Stephen McGee address needed depth. Large group of picks give camp roster extra bodies, but how much else? Grade D+

Redskins: 5 Picks. After DE Brian Orapko (Rd1) Washington didn’t do all that well with only 2 picks in the first 3+ rounds. FB Eddie williams is already a” Bubble” player. CB Kevin Barnes, and LB’s Cody Glenn and Robert Henson are reserves at best. Grade: C

Bears: 9 Picks. This group could have even been better if there was a choice in the first two rounds. 6 of the 9 picks should contribute though, and the WR trio of Juaquin Iglesias, Johnny Knox, and Derek Kinder give the receivers depth for new QB Jay Cutler. DT Jarron Gilbert has upside potential as a pass rusher. Grade: B-

Lions: 10 Picks. Give Detroit credit for getting the Stafford deal done, even if they paid a bit over what he’s really worth. TE Brandon Pettigrew was the best of a weak class at his position, but could play a crossover role as an end/ receiver. Louis Delmas is a quality safety, but he was the only DB they selected. Grade: B+

Packers: 8 Picks. Six of this group will make the Packers roster this year. BJ Raji (Rd1) should be a force for years to come on the inside of defensive line. LB Clay Matthews is also a quality prospect, and FB Quinn Johnson will contribute. The offensive line will be helped by T.J Lang and Jamon Meredith. The only down side is the lack of a higher rated DB prospect. Grade: A-

Vikings: 5 Picks. The whole ball of wax here is Percy Harvin. “If” is the biggest two letter word in the universe and it applies to Harvin here. OT Phil Loadholt will be a contributor and could quietly be a draft steal, but there isn’t much else to get excited about here.

Grade: C+ if Harvin gets strait, otherwise, a C

Falcons: 8 Picks. First round pick DT Peria Jerry can play, but can he stay healthy? Atlanta needed defensive help just about everywhere, and they addressed that in this draft, taking only one offensive player in OT Garrett  Reynolds. DE Lawrence Sidbury of FCS national champion Richmond university is a gift in round 4.

Grade: B+

Panthers: 7 Picks: Everette Brown could have been a low first or high second round selection in a different year. He will eventually develop into Julius Peppers’ replacement. CB’s Sherrod Martin and Captain Munnerlyn should provide added reinforcements to the defensive backfield. RB Mike Goodson and FB Tony Fiammetta will take some pressure of the passing game. No selections in the top 50 picks did hurt though. Grade: C+

Saints: 4 Picks (but made deals prior to this for Shockey and Vilma).

CB Malcom Jenkins will have almost an instant impact on the defensive secondary.

Punter Tom Morestead will most likely make the team. The other two picks, S Chip Vaughn and LB Stanley Arnoux will be solid reserves. The lack of early selections hurts here. Grade: B-

Buccaneers: 6 Picks: Coach Morris will have his very own QB of the future in Josh Freeman. DL’s Roy Miller and Kyle Moore are good selections. WR Sammie Stroughter will pay off down the road, but nothing will come of this class for 2009.

Grade: C-

Cardinals: 8 Picks. Just have to love what the Cards did in this draft. Chris Wells’ anguish is Arizona’s gain here. OL’s Herman Johnson and Trevor Canfield will add depth, although Johnson was touted as the best Guard in the class. his size might force his move outside to tackle. S Rashard Johnson and CD Greg Toler will also help the Cards pass defense. Grade: B

Rams: 7 Picks. OT Jason Smith & LB James Laurinaitis fill glaring needs right off the bat. QB Keith Null(6th Rd) could become the 3rd QB. sadly, the Rams didn’t go for a receiver until the 5th round, but got Hakeem NIcks’ teammate Brooks Foster of North Carolina, a steady possession receiver, who might be able to develop some moves. Grade: B

49ers: 7 Picks. We can’t say enough about Michael Crabtree, even if he can’t do the Deion Sanders dance too well. He may wind up to be the lone starter in 2009 from this draft class, But they needed to get help for whomever the starting QB is. Grade B-

Seahawks: 7 Picks. When no one wanted to trade up to the 4th spot, the ‘Hawks devided to reinforce their pass rush with Aaron Curry(Rd1). OC Max Unger in round 2 is also an instant starter. the rest of the picks are all contributors in some way this season. WR Deion Butler and TE Cam Morrah are great value picks. Grade: B+

General manager Jerry Reese has not yet made a major attempt at signing a receiver in free agency, but will certainly address that in the draft. The Giants had college prospect Percy Harvin in for a workout last week. But there have to be other names on the radar. One such name should be Cal-Poly’s Ramses Barden before the Super Bowl no one even knew who he was except for a handful of scouts. Barden is the only receiver in this draft at 6′5″ or above (6′5-1/2″-229lbs) and while he is still a bit raw, he has the potential to go a long way in the pros. We wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Barden heard his name called mid to late on day two of this year’s draft. The other is Rutgers’ WR Kenny Britt. I’m not so totally sold on Mr. Britt.  Although he is 6′4″, he only weighs about 212 pounds, hardly someone who can out muscle larger defensive backs over the middle. He can jump, but would need to learn the mechanics of the “Jump Ball” game in the end zone. Another option is Browns WR Braylon Edwards.

The NY Jets never seem to be happy with what they already have. If they feel that Kellen Clemens will never run the Jets Offense on a regular basis, try trading him for the extra draft pick. Then people will take you seriously when you say you need a QB. Until then, people only see the Jets as further behind the Giants in PSL sales.

I’m not so sure they were ever seriously considered a factor in the “Jay Cutler” Saga. The three way deal between the Broncos, Titans, and the Jets was talked about for all of five minutes and then dismissed at least on NY sports talk radio.

Up In Buffalo, Terrell Owens has already missed a “voluntary” off season work out with his new team of choice. So I ask you, is this the way to start off on the right foot with your new team and coaching staff? I would thing you’d want to do everything you can to show the people of upstate NY that you’re happy to be there. Sure the workouts are “voluntary”, but it is also “strongly suggested” that players attend.

Down I-95, the Eagles’ QB Donovan McNabb isn’t too happy that so many veteran players are leaving. One media vet tells us that it’s been building up to this for years due to poor management on the part of the Eagles front office. You have to feel bad for Donovan because he puts his heart and soul into trying to make the Eagles a winner. It’s shameful that the front office won’t give them the tools to do so.

Some of the area college programs have already released their schedules for 2009. The Liberty Cup match-up between Fordham University (Patriot) and Columbia University (Ivy) is sure to be hotly contested as always. Columbia’s Head Coach Norries Wilson is one of the hardest working coaches to grace New York City’s college football scene in some time. He also gives a great post game press conference no matter what the outcome of the game, and always has a high quality of Insight into all phases of the game. As a college player, Coach Wilson played in two bowl games at the University of Minnesota as an offensive lineman. Fordham’s head man Tom Massella has been around winning football for years, and while the Rams had a tough 2008, they were the 2007 patriot league champs. Both teams also work hard on the recruitment front each year. Circle your calendars for September 19th at 6pm at Fordham’s Jack Coffey field.

The NFLPA elected a new executive director 3 weeks ago named DeMaurice Smith. Mr. Smith is a talented litigator, but has no other football related experience other than being a rabid Redskins fan. So maybe there is some truth to the story that the election may have been “jerrymanded” by player association lawyers Kessler and Berthlesen. At least one retired player who is part of the suit against the NFLPA to recognize the lack of health care benefits to retired players believes it is true, and has gone on record to anyone who will listen. There is even another story that the 28.1 million dollar settlement will be reduced by 50% to the players.

As comedy man Yakov Smirnoff says, “What a country this America is.”

Visit Dr. Bill on his site or listen to his radio show.

* I LOVE when a wide receiver beats the defender, makes a terrific catch, and gives that extra effort to get into the end zone; I HATE when that same guy celebrates wildly, does a showboating dance, and acts as if he hasn’t scored a TD since the fifth grade.
* I LOVE seeing a pitcher have complete control of a baseball game–mowing hitters down and frustrating them until the late innings; I HATE when the manager removes that hurler from the game SIMPLY because the dreaded pitch counter has struck the century mark.
* I LOVE seeing a hockey player steal the puck, go the length of the ice, and score a tie-breaking goal; I HATE when an opposing player takes exception to it out of frustration, takes a sucker punch at someone, and sets off a silly fight that holds up the game WAY too long.
* I LOVE the way sportscaster Vin Scully calls a baseball game–effectively describing the action in a “non-showy” way; I HATE it that guys like John Sterling think they ARE the show.
* I LOVE the memories of paying $1.50 for a bleacher seat at Yankee Stadium during my college days–this after having taken an inexpensive subway ride to get there; I HATE the fact that a family of four now has to decide whether or not to go to ONE Yankee game in lieu of a yearly vacation.
* I LOVE hearing terrific renditions of the National Anthem being sung at sporting events; I HATE the fact that these are as scarce as lunar eclipses.
* I LOVE guys like Wes Welker, Craig Breslow, and Ray Allen–true GOOD guys in the world of sports–both on and off the field; I HATE that criminals/bums like Plaxico Burress and Adam “Pacman” Jones garner more headlines than their law-abiding fellow players.
* I LOVE going to the TPC in Cromwell each year and watching the Traveler’s Championship; I HATE that there are so many people in attendance there who do nothing but sip martinis in luxury tents–individuals who wouldn’t know a golf ball from an Inaugural Ball.
* I LOVE watching Rafael Nadal play tennis–hustling constantly and never giving up on a point; I HATE that he has to towel off after EVERY point and that the TV viewer sees more close-ups of him wiping his face/brow than of him “wiping out” his opponent.
* I LOVE that we still see basketball courts/rims in the playgrounds of schools; I HATE that many of them go unused due to kids being indoors playing video games instead.
* I LOVE watching the annual Army/Navy football game–complete with its in-sync marching, sportsmanship, and classy behavior; I HATE that Navy has TOTALLY dominated this series over the past decade or so–rendering non-competitive, blowout victories usually decided by the end of the third quarter.
* I LOVE going to the Yale Bowl–a truly historic, special structure; I HATE it when it rains there–turning the parking area into a true mud-wrestler’s paradise.
* I LOVE watching the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform–who seem to become more lovely/talented as each year passes by; I HATE the sad reality that I’m old enough to be the FATHER of each and every one of these lovely young ladies.
* I LOVE picking up the sports section during baseball season and examining boxscores; I HATE that a player’s salary is the first thing I think of rather than what he accomplished on the field that particular day.
* I LOVE the smell of hot dogs, nachos, pizza, etc. at various sporting events; I HATE the fact that I gain weight just THINKING about indulging in those types of foods.
* I LOVE the excitement of college athletics and the competitive games that result from the various sports; I HATE the fact that many so-called ”scholar-athletes” involved in these sports would have trouble spelling their school’s name if it wasn’t stamped on a jersey/tee shirt they owned.
* I LOVE watching Tiger Woods swing a golf club–the combination of fluidity and power being a true thing of beauty; I HATE the fact that when he doesn’t birdie a hole, it looks as if he is angry at the entire WORLD.
* I LOVE that women’s college basketball has grown exponentially over the years–and is now getting the attention that it richly deserves; I HATE the fact that it is MUCH less competitive than the men’s game–as the #1 team can still beat the #2 team by a ridiculous 30 points.
* I LOVE watching Manny Ramirez swing a baseball bat–an awesome combination of concentration, ease, and power; I HATE it when “Manny is Manny”–a moody guy who truly believes that quitting on a team is no big deal.
* I LOVE hosting/producing a cable TV sports talk show–speaking to a variety of guests and learning more about them; I HATE that some people who are given an invitation to come on the show can’t find the time to even RESPOND via email/telephone with a simple “yes” or “no”–thus holding up the guest-booking process.
* I LOVE watching/covering the Connecticut Defenders at a fine, fun facility like Dodd Stadium; I HATE that more people don’t take advantage of the affordability of minor league games and that there continues to be more empty seats at games than there SHOULD be.
* I LOVE coaching baseball at the middle-school level and helping some youngsters reach their potential; I HATE those 45-degree/damp days at practice when my aching joints remind me that I’m not 20–or even 40–anymore.
* I LOVE playing golf; I HATE playing golf (I guess it all depends if my last shot traveled straight or not).
* I LOVE true “journalists” whose expertise happens to lie in the area of sports; I HATE the fact that these individuals are few and far between as the phenomenon of ”jocks” infiltrating the sports media business has reached epidemic proportions.

Finally,
* I LOVE writing a sports column weekly–sharing my thoughts and receiving terrific feedback from readers; I HATE it when the dreaded “writer’s block” strikes–something that usually happens yearly during the last week of January