NFL 2008 RSS
"We need a lot of people to replace him," says Giants general manager JERRY REESE.
"I don’t think one man can replace Michael Strahan, but we do have a number of guys.
We have OSI UMENYIORA, who has been a Pro Bowler for us. JUSTIN TUCK is in the fold. MATHIAS KIWANUKA is a
guy we can move back down from linebacker. We have DAVE TOLLEFSON, who is a young player we like a lot.
JAY ALFORD can play in and out. And we signed REYNALDO WYNN, who can give us some snaps in and out.
We have some guys that we can try to replace Michael with."
Giants head coach TOM COUGHLIN, who called it an honor to coach Strahan, sees the opportunity for some of the
young players on the team to step up.
"There is an outstanding football player who is no longer part of our team," says Coughlin. "Anytime a player of that magnitude moves on and retires, no question there is a void to be filled. Young people are going to have greater opportunities now and they will hopefully step up and meet that. Michael Strahan is a very unique individual and a great player in his own right and yet these young guys behind him who have their own abilities, their own strengths and weaknesses, they’ve got to come into their own in that respect."
Umenyiora, who played opposite Strahan on the right side, understands the challenges ahead.
Super Bowl XLII: Michael Strahan & Osi Umenyiora Celebrate After Sacking Tom Brady
"If the team needs me to be more of a leader," says Umenyiora, who led the club with 13.0 sacks last year, "I believe I will be able to step up and fill that role.
"As a defensive line, I don't know how the retirement is going to affect us. I don't think you can look to anybody and say that one person is going to be Michael Strahan's replacement. It would be ridiculous to think one guy can come in there and do that."
Tuck, an emerging star in the league and one of the top candidates to replace Strahan on the left side, was second on the Giants with 10.0 sacks last year and added two sacks in Super Bowl XLII.
"I learned everything from Strahan," he says. "Everything. He taught all of us how to go about the business and being a pro."
Another young player who will be watched closely in camp will be Kiwanuka, who can play both end and linebacker.
"Losing a guy like Strahan, who was somebody that had been around and helped this organization for so long, is tough," Kiwanuka says. "But we are going to get it done. It’s going to be a group effort to get this done. We have great leaders and great leadership out there already, but I think that everybody is going to have to pull a little more weight now."
As for a possible position switch back to defensive end, Kiwanuka just wants to play, period.
"It’s the same thing I’ve said all along, which is that I just want to be out there on the field," he says. "We have to get our best 11 guys out there on the field. That’s all that matters."
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NFL 2008 Week 1: The NFL Kicks Off Its 2008 Season
Defending Super Bowl Champion Giants start the NFL 2008 Season Against the Redskins
The National Football League roars back into action this Thursday night in the first game of NFL Kickoff 2008
Weekend. In an NFC East Division battle of 2007 playoff teams, the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants
host the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
"We're ready to roll," says Jacksonville Jaguars QB DAVID GARRARD. "Everybody is excited. It's time to stop just practicing and playing for fun and start playing for real."
A full preview, analysis and notes dedicated to NFL 2008 Week 1 (Kickoff Weekend)
Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants Aim to Repeat After Super Season
2008 NFL Football
The NFL's 2008 Kickoff Weekend begins on Thursday, September 4 this season
when the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants host the Washington Redskins. Last season's win
over the Redskins is the game that propelled the Giants all the way to Super Bowl victory.
Super Bowl XLII: "One of the Greatest Games of All Time"
NFL Super Bowl XLII
He ought to know. He?s a player in the NFL who knows its history. He?s another Manning maybe you?ve heard of -- Peyton -- and that was his summary of Super Bowl XLII last Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona:
"One of the greatest games of all time."
In the game, his brother, New York Giants quarterback ELI MANNING, engineered one of the most memorable
late-game-winning drives in Super Bowl history for a 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots at University
of Phoenix Stadium. That drive included what many are calling the greatest play in Super Bowl history.
Super Bowl XLII: Giants 17 Patriots 14
NFL Super Bowl XLII
Road Warrior Giants Bring It Home
Undefeated Destiny Disrupted for the 18 -1 New England Patriots
With 2:49 left in Super Bowl XLII it seemed to be yet another perfectly scripted comeback victory for the
New England Patriots as Tom Brady connected with Randy Moss for a 7-yard TD completion. However, the
Giants went off script as Eli Manning drove the Giants 83 yards for the game winning touchdown.
Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning ended the 12 play 83 yard winning drive when he found Plaxico Burress (17)
in the corner of the end zone with 35 seconds to play.
Super Bowl XXI
New York Giants 39 Denver Broncos 20
Super Bowl XXV
New York Giants 20 Buffalo Bills 19
Super Bowl XXXV
Baltimore Ravens 34 New York Giants 7
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