2008, The Year the Giants Legs Gave Out

You knew it was going to be a tough year once Osi Umenyiora went down for the year with a leg injury.  However, the Giants got off to the best start in team history, going 11-1.  Then Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg and took the offenses legs out from under offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.  At first it looked like Domenik Hixon might be able to fill in for Burress but the team sorely missed Burress's ability to block and make the big catch over the heads of opposing corners.  The Giants limped into the playoffs losing 3 of their last 4 games but they won the important matchup against the Carolina Panthers for the #1 seed in the NFC.  However, in the topsy turvy world of the NFL that wouldn't matter.

Enter the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the league's hottest teams entering the playoffs squeaking into the postseason on the last day of the season.  The Eagles plain old beat up the Giants in a physical matchup that featured Eli Manning making several mistakes and poor throws.  Nothing seemed to go the Giants way, not even the opening kickoff that should have gone for a touchdown except kicker David Akers threw his body into Ahmad Bradshaw.  The Giants just couldn't make the big play, the thing Plax excelled at.  Had Plaxico been on the field the Giants win this game.  

Now comes the major question for the Giants this offseason, what to do with Plaxico.  Do they cut him?  Do they keep him and hope he comes back as the player he was?  If they get rid of him whom do they sign or trade for?

Topping the free agent class is T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a target of the Giants the last time he was a free agent which was the same year the Giants signed Plax.  Could Plax be replaced by T.J.?  the Bengals might be making Mr. Houshmandzadeh their #1 WR next year if they trade Chad Johnson.  However, they must trade Chad Johnson, aka Ocho Cinco, first.  could Chad end up on the Giants?  Not likely after seeing Plax implode on the New York scene.  What could be expected from Chad Johnson in the media capitol of the world?  I shudder at the thought.  

Devery Henderson of the Saints might be a viable option if Houshmandzadeh isn't available.  Henderson has put up decent numbers with the Saints but has not been a number one guy.  I don't think the Giants, still a Super Bowl caliber team, will entrust their aerial attack to an unknown.  There is always Terrell Owens.  Well, while he might be available I would boycott the Giants if they made a move for a 35 year old baby.  

There will be cap casualties that make themselves known later on.  However, right now the field looks pretty slim.  It is obvious that Eli Manning needs Plaxico.  Maybe the Giants bring him back, allow Derrick Ward to sign elsewhere as a free agent since he is going to command a little more money than the Giants would want to give to a #2 running back, 1,000 yards or not.  Ahmad Bradshaw is ready for an increased role in the offense if Ward doesn't come back.  There is also Danny Ware to consider.  Ware has been in the back waiting for his turn.  

Next year there will be an increased role for Mario Manningham, the Giants second round pick in the last draft.  Manningham has talent and has now spent a year learning the offense.  Look for Amani Toomer, the Giants all-time leading receiver to either retire or to be re-signed at a discounted price.  Toomer's age definitely showed this past season as he had a hard time getting open many days.  Toomer will go down in Giants record books and if he does sign with another team he will forever remain a Giant.  It's too bad he didn't get a chance to defend the Super Bowl title.  

No matter what the Giants do in the offseason they will be getting Osi Umenyiora back which is like signing an all-pro defensive end.  Osi's return will make whomever is the defensive coordinator's job a little easier.  Adding Osi opposite Tuck and rotating Dave Tollefson and Mathias Kiwanuka to keep them fresh will add up the sacks again for a defensive unit that is among the league's best.  

The 2008 season is not the closing curtain on this franchise, just a setback.  This team is still young, among the youngest in the league, and has playoff hardened veterans who are going to come back next year hungry to show they are still Super Bowl caliber.  There is plenty of talent already declaring for the draft which is shaping up to be one of the deepest in years.  The Giants will have an excellent shot at getting difference makers.  While 2008 is a disappointing year because of the expectations placed upon the Giants, it will not go down in vain.  Next year I expect Tom Coughlin to have his team back in the hunt.  There is plenty of cap room, a GM who has a nose for talent, and a team that will only be a year removed from a Super Bowl title.  If I am the NFC I am a little frightened at the prospect of a pissed off Giants team being on your teams schedule.