Inactives: McKENZIE, Moss, Koets, Barden, GJohnson, Boley, Ross, Canty.

(Sintim and Ware playing)

Phil Simms and Ken Whisenhunt (Head Coach AZ) joined Francesa this morning.  Simms first.

1) Giants-Cardinals. Phil talked about the LAST game vs the Saints. He had a few interesting remarks: no comments

1)  Salary Cap- the kind of topic that gets some blog time in the offseason when things slow down.  The article starts out well and then dies an ugly death by not using enough constructive arguments to support the hypothesis.  It was particularly disappointing to see a lack of discussion about the impact of rookies on the salary cap.  It used to be that getting a super high draft pick (like LT or Troy Aikman) could rebuild your franchise.  Instead, what it does is punish the weaker franchises by forcing them to allocate psychotic resources to unproven players who have not taken a single snap in the NFL.  We all debate the strengths and weaknesses of Eli Manning, but we do understand that the enormous investment has delivered a franchise QB.  Imagine if Manning was a Joey Harrington or Tim Couch?!  But even worse, imagine someone like Alex Smith, who many felt had promise.  None of that mattered when injuries completely derailed the investment the 49ers sunk into his black-hole shoulder.  The franchise has waited 5 years for a payoff.  Still waiting.  These are the reasons why there is an NFL underclass. 

You make these draft picks.  You sign the top 10 picks of each class to super expensive salaries with monster signing bonuses.  And the rest of the rookie class becomes a steal from a value perspective if they can make it in the NFL.  The cap hit that the Giants draft class of 2007 takes is peanuts. Starters: Ross, Smith, Boss, Johnson. Lots of playing time: Bradshaw. Roster: Alford (IR), DeOssie, Koets.  That is incredible.  If you want to understand the haves and have nots in the NFL, look at that draft class and start analyzing how the successful franchises draft well and survey the talent of other teams.

Examine front office moves like the signing of Justin Tuck to a contract extension before he hit free agency.  Let's put this move in perspective: Tuck, who was signed for 5 years and $30M in 2008.  DeAngelo Hall, a cover 2 CB, signed for 7 years and $70M with the Raiders at the ~same time. It is not hard to fathom why certain teams struggle and others thrive.  And to put an exclamation point on Hall, the Redskins signed him to a 6 yr $54 Million deal.  TOO MUCH MONEY.  Too many resources squandered!     

2) Canty: "I'm day to day because I am getting very close." He's out this week, but the way he is talking, he could be activated  in and around the bye. There are only 2 more games before the bye.  If the Giants are conservative they will wait until after the bye.  But at least he'll be back.

Bill Sheridan Q&A

"..we anticipated New Orleans running the ball.  And they didn't do that.  They threw it out of groupings that we were anticipating playing run calls on."
This is the benefit of being unpredictable. This is the specific benefit of play-action. 

1) The Giants are favored over the Cardinals.  -7 pts.  That money is inviting you to take the Cardinals.  Which means that there is a great deal of respect for the Giants.  Some of it could be the West divisions faring poorly 3 time zones to the East? Separately, FYI it is a Sunday night game.  

2) Can the Cardinals/Warner protect the ball?  They sure did last weekend. Let's go back to the NFC Playoffs.  It was critically important to disrupt Warner's timing and comfort.  You need not be a rocket scientist to know that the man is capable of coughing up the ball.  While he improved last year (some of it was physical, he was able to grab the ball more tightly) he is always vulnerable.  Enter the (Jim Johnson blitzing) Eagles defense, who pressured him all day.  Haley countered with SIX screens.  Well, Haley is gone now, he got a job with the Chiefs.  (Help me, I am confused as to why Gilbride did not get the job from Pioli.. could it be that in a similar situation a week earlier he called NONE?! Oh, and I just remembered, Gilbride never even got an interview for that job.)  SOOO, if you pressure Warner, the defense has to be aware of the screen.   

3) Webster on Fitzgerald.  Fitzgerald is 6'3" but we know that Webster was able to handle him last year 1 on 1.  Interesting to reread last year's game for clues as to how these teams played one another.  Breaston, Boldin.  Like the last game we played vs these guys, you MUST score points. 

4) Look at the 'shape' of a Colts win vs the Cardinals earlier this year.  4 sacks given up by the Cardinals vs their only credible opponent they have faced this year.  But look at those critical turnovers which kill the birds.  The final score is deceiving.  You have to assume the Cardinals will not give up those turnovers and will  score plenty of points.  So if the Giants can get that pressure w/o blitzing, great sign.  Wonder's comments about AZ from 3 weeks ago: "AZ is crumbling because their line play has deteriorated from last year. Their LT (Mike Gandy) and RT (Levi Brown) are not good."  Gandy and Brown have been adequate vs weaker teams but not against Freeny and Mathis, who Simms cites as two of the 5 best DEs in the game. 

COMMON DENOMINATOR

a) 2008 Giants 37 AZ 29.  Giants get 10 pts off of two turnovers, great field position from Hixon.

b) 2009 Colts 31 AZ 10.  Colts get 14 points off of two key turnovers.

c) We can even go back to the Super Bowl for how the Cardinals lost.. the INT pick 6 by Harrison at Halftime. 

Without a turnover or two, this team is going to be a difficult opponent.