NFL 2008 RSS
THE PLAY
New York area television and radio stations gave thousands of fans the opportunity to sumbit a name for THE PLAY.
And to be honest, quite a few good names were submitted for the best and most amazing play in Super Bowl history. The
best I could come up with -- Eli Mandini and the Tyreefic Trap. "Mandini" for Eli Manning's Houdini-like escape
from the clutches of the New England Patriots defense; and, of course, David Tyree's amazing leap and then
trapping the ball against his helmet for the catch.
The difficult part of naming the play is that there are four amazing parts to it -- the escape, the throw, the leap and the catch.
I've seen the video replays and the pictures. Yet, the only way I can describe it as is THE PLAY. Not only because the
Giants won Super Bowl XLII, but also this was THE PLAY that spoiled the New England Patriots place in NFL History.
Some Quotes to Close out the NFL 2007 Season and Super Bowl XLII
Only makes sense to quote Eli Manning and David Tyree
Eli Manning on THE PLAY
"When I got home, I wanted to see it. I hadn’t seen David Tyree’s catch. I kind of saw a little bit on
the field, but didn’t really get to appreciate what a great catch it was. People were asking me how I got out of
that jam I was in, and I really don’t know. They were pulling me down. I felt them holding me, but I never
felt anybody pull me to the ground. I stayed alive and I saw David in the middle of the field. I gave him
a shot to make the catch, and (it was an) unbelievable catch. For him to catch that ball – kind of hold it against
his helmet – I think he pulled back and guys (were) swiping at the ball. It’s just a great individual effort by him."
"We had a lot of big plays. Amani Toomer had a big third-down catch. We had a fourth-down conversion,
a fourth-and-one conversion. Steve Smith on third-and-ten. You could see the end zone,
we were getting close and we still had a lot of work. He had a great catch on the sideline to be able to get
up the field and get the first down, and get out of bounds to stop the clock. The offensive line was doing their
job protecting, and everybody had their part and their role. [New England] had been playing zone, keeping two
safeties back and just playing a little conservative through that whole drive. Finally, I knew they’d come after us.
They came out with a blitz and had one-on-one with Plaxico Burress. That’s a match-up we’re going to take every time. He
ran a great route, got wide open and made a great catch."
Time to Move On
The Giants accomplishments will resonate with us for a very long time. Alas, however, the 2007 season is now behind us.
So it's to move on and forward as the 2008 NFL Player Draft is 7 weeks away.
The NFL Network's Mike Mayock is considered by many to be the best NFL draft analyst bar none. Over the course of last
week Mike debuted his player rankings heading into the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The guru provides a list of his top 20
and also an expert break down by postion.
The "Path to the Draft"
In all, NFL Network will televise 26 hours of live, high-definition combine coverage.
With Xs & Os breakdowns from this past NCAA College football season, Mayock selected Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall
over Arkansas’ Darren McFadden as his top running back. In addition, USC’s Sedrick Ellis gets the edge over LSU’s
Glenn Dorsey at defensive tackle.
Mayock on Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall vs. Arkansas’ Darren McFadden
"Mendenhall translates better to the NFL game. He’s 225 pounds and has great feet and tremendous burst and
acceleration for a player of his size. My biggest concern with McFadden is that although he also has great burst
and acceleration, I don’t think he has the lower body strength that you’re looking for in a first-round NFL back."
Mayock on USC’s Sedrick Ellis vs. LSU’s Glenn Dorsey
"They are both great football players and it’s a very difficult evaluation between the two as to who is better
because they are both top-10 picks. What I like about Ellis is that he played nose tackle in a 3-4 defense at
USC and that will appeal to 3-4 NFL teams. In addition, he will also appeal to the 4-3 teams because he has the
quickness to play the 'three technique.' Dorsey is a great football player and I give him credit for playing
through injuries the past few years. However his durability is a concern."
MIKE MAYOCK’S TOP 20 PROSPECTS (as of February 12, 2008)
Matt Ryan - QB, Boston College Sedrick Ellis – DT, USC Chris Long - DE, Virginia Glenn Dorsey – DT, LSU Vernon Gholston – DE, Ohio State Jake Long – OL, Michigan Ryan Clady – OL, Boise State Keith Rivers – LB, USC Phillip Merling – DE, Clemson Leodis McKelvin – CB, Troy Brandon Flowers – CB, Virginia Tech Rashard Mendenhall – RB, Illinois Jeff Otah – OL, Pittsburgh Derrick Harvey – DE, Florida Kentwan Balmer – DT, North Carolina Aqib Talib – CB, Kansas Chris Williams – OL, Vanderbilt Mario Manningham – WR, Michigan Limas Sweed – WR, Texas Branden Albert – OL, Virginia
MIKE MAYOCK’S TOP 5 RANKINGS BY POSITION (as of February 12, 2008)
Quarterback
Matt Ryan - Boston College Chad Henne - Michigan Brian Brohm - Louisville Joe Flacco - Delaware Andre Woodson - Kentucky
Running Back
Rashard Mendenhall - Illinois Darren McFadden - Arkansas Jonathan Stewart - Oregon Felix Jones - Arkansas Chris Johnson - East Carolina
Fullback
Jacob Hester - LSU Peyton Hillis - Arkansas Owen Schmitt - West Virginia
Wide Receiver
Mario Manningham - Michigan Limas Sweed - Texas DeSean Jackson - California Malcolm Kelly - Oklahoma Early Doucet - LSU
Tight End
Fred Davis - USC John Carlson - Notre Dame Dustin Keller - Purdue Jermichael Finley - Texas Brad Cottam - Tennessee
Offensive Tackle
Jake Long - Michigan Ryan Clady - Boise State Jeff Otah - Pittsburgh Chris Williams - Vanderbilt Gosder Cherilus - Boston College
Interior Offensive Line
Branden Albert - Virginia Chilo Rachal - USC Roy Schuening - Oregon St. Mike Pollak - Arizona State Mackenzy Bernadeau - Bentley College
Defensive End
Chris Long - Virginia Vernon Gholston - Ohio State Phillip Merling - Clemson Derrick Harvey - Florida Lawrence Jackson - USC
Defensive Tackle
Sedrick Ellis - USC Glenn Dorsey - LSU Kentwan Balmer - North Carolina Trevor Laws - Notre Dame Letroy Guion - Florida State
Inside Linebacker
Dan Connor - Penn State Curtis Lofton - Oklahoma Spencer Larsen - Arizona Beau Bell - UNLV Jo-Lonn Dunbar - Boston College
Outside Linebacker
Keith Rivers - USC Erin Henderson - Maryland Xavier Adibi - Virginia Tech Tavares Gooden – Miami (FL) Ali Highsmith - LSU
Cornerback
Leodis McKelvin - Troy Brandon Flowers - Virginia Tech Aqib Talib - Kansas Mike Jenkins - South Florida Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Tennessee State
Safety
DaJuan Morgan - N.C. State Kenny Phillips - Miami (FL) Thomas DeCoud - California D.J. Wolfe - Oklahoma Tyrell Johnson - Arkansas State
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