Its Not Easy Being A Giant

The past 2 years has been an up and down roller coaster for the New York Giants and their fans. First Tiki Barber announces he plans to retire at the end of the 2006 season..while they still had games left on the schedule. The Giants finished the season with an 8-8 record and was eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by the Eagles thanks to a David Akers field goal as time expired.

Not too long after his retirement Barber took shots at his former coach and quarterback Eli Manning.

This was a low point for the Giants

In the 2007 season, coach Tom Coughlin decided to try a new approach to coaching and he was a much nicer and calmer person.

Michael Strahan, the NFL all time leader in sacks, came close to retiring himself but decided against it just before the regular season started.

The Giants ended up winning two more games than they did the year before and made the playoffs and amazed everyone(myself included)when they beat the 18-0 New England Patriots and Eli Manning, who was critizied by his former teamate, was named the Super Bowl MVP.

This was a hight point for the Giants

Following the Super Bowl, Tight End Jeremy Shockey, who had been injured earlier in the season, didnt feel he was a part of the team anymore and refused to particpate in any team activities and was eventually traded the New Orleans Saints. While they lost one player by their own decision, they lost another due to retirement. Strahan who had put off retirement the year before, decided now that he has a championship, it was finally the right time to hang it up. The Giants also lost four key defensive players to free agency. And to top it all off, the Giants two-time Pro Bowl Defensive End, Osi Umenyiora suffered a season ending injury during a preseason game.

Low Point

Dispite all of the off season woes the Giants still has managed a record of 11-1(as of Dec. 2) and are tied for the best record in the NFL and currently lead the NFC
East Division

Definite High Point

Just when you thought it was safe to be a Giants fan, Plaxico Burress, who has had many off the field problems, goes and shoots himself in the leg, is charged with gun possesion, and is suspended by his team for the rest of the season. Apparently Antonio Pierce wanted a piece of the spotlight because he allegedy stashed the gun Plax shot himself with in New Jersey (good idea Antonio, the cops will ever think to look for a gun in New Jersey) and could also face charges for trying to cover up the incident.

A Very Low Point

The New York Giants will have more hight points in 2008 as the heavy favorites in the playoffs this season. But they will also have more low points as Burress faces criminal charges and may or may not be traded or released at season's end.

If there's one thing I'm thankful for this holiday season its that I'm not a Giants fan and that as long as the Giants keep that roller coaster moving, I'll always have something to write about