Category: Giants

Watch: Cowboys’ Jourdan Lewis flagged after head-butting Giant

Dallas DB Jourdan Lewis with the foolish 15-yard penalty

One would think smarts should come into play when you are battling to stay alive in the final week of the regular season.

The message must have not gotten through to Dallas DB Jourdan Lewis before the Cowboys’ must-win game against the New York Giants on Sunday at MetLife.

Lewis somehow thought it was a good idea to head-butt Kaden Smith, a tight end for Big Blue.

Lewis was flagged for a personal foul on the play. And on the broadcast, he continued to smile gleefully for some unknown reason.

Watch: Giants’ Sterling Shepard takes reverse 23 yards for TD

A reverse turned into a 23-yard run by Sterling Shepard that became a Giants’ TD

The New York Giants are off and running against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at MetLife.

Four of the six plays on Big Blue’s first drive went for 10 yards or more. The final flourish was a reverse that Sterling Shepard took 23 yards to the end zone.

The score remained 6-0 when Graham Gano missed the PAT.

That could come back to haunt.

Washington-Philadelphia tabbed for Sunday Night Football in Week 17

The Washington Football Team looks to win the NFC East against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football

The game will determine the NFC East championship in some form. Still, it is hard to believe the best the NFL and NBC have to offer in Week 17 is Washington at Philadelphia.

That was determined Sunday night when Al Michaels announced the Washington-Philly game would be the “Sunday Night Football” location.

If the Eagles win, the team that wins the Cowboys-Giants game earlier that Sunday would be the NFC East champion. If the WFT defeats the reeling Eagles, Ron Rivera and Co. would play host to a playoff game.

So, you have a 6-9 team playing a 4-10-1 team to determine whether it gets into the playoffs or if another 6-9 team or one that is 5-10 coming in gets to go to the postseason.

That is going out with a whimper.

Joe Judge heads into Christmas as Giant Grinch

Joe Judge has his mind on the Baltimore Ravens, not Christmas

It is a holiday week … except for New York Giants’ coach Joe Judge and subsequently, that would impact his team.

Judge made an appearance on “Good Morning Football” on Wednesday. The rookie coach seemed more worried about Sunday’s opponent in Week 16, the Baltimore Ravens, as opposed to what gifts his wife and four children will be opening on Friday morning.

Talk about tunnel vision. Check out this quote: “With all due respect to Christmas, let’s forget about Christmas for a little while and focus on the Ravens.”

No, no no.

Watch: Cody Parkey doinks PAT on Sunday Night Football

Cody Parkey somehow found the upright from 48 on a PAT. Doink!

It must be something about NBC that haunts Cody Parkey.

The kicker who double-doinked on the Peacock in a playoff game when a Chicago Bear had bad luck on Sunday.

Jarvis Landry scored a touchdown but was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Giants head coach Joe Judge took the penalty on the PAT, forcing Parkey to try from 48, and somehow he managed to hit the upright, again.

Doink.

Parkey for the Bears against the Eagles. Doinks for the memories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RIs3nXjL9Y

Watch: Browns score and LeBron James is counting

LeBron James is paying attention to the Browns’ game with the Giants?

The Cleveland Browns jumped ahead of the New York Giant on Sunday as Baker Mayfield found Austin Hooper, who made a nice catch in the back of the end zone.

And a favorite son of the Buckeye state showed that he is paying attention.

Illinois hires Giants assistant Bret Bielema as head coach

The University of Illinois has named Giants assistant Bret Bielema as its head football coach

The University of Illinois dipped into the NFL for its head coach after firing former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith.

Bret Bielema was named head coach of the Fighting Illini on Saturday. He was the outside linebackers coach and senior assistant for the New York Giants during the 2020 season.

“Illinois and the Big Ten is home for me, and I can’t be any more excited about the opportunity in front of me with the Fighting Illini,” Bielema said. “We want to build a program that makes Illini Nation proud and regain the passion that I’ve seen when Illinois wins. We want the young men playing football in the state of Illinois from Freeport to Cairo and from Quincy to Danville dreaming of wearing the Orange and Blue and playing at Memorial Stadium. I look forward to re-connecting with the high school coaches around the state making it clear we intend to keep our players home.

“We will build an outstanding staff for both player development and recruiting. The University of Illinois has incredible facilities and is known as one of the world’s outstanding academic institutions. We will hold the young men on our team responsible both on and off the field while coaching them to be champions in life. Jen and I, along with our girls, are excited to get to Champaign-Urbana and get started on the journey. Go Illini!”

Bielema has head coaching experience on the college level. From 2006-12 Bielema was the head coach at Wisconsin, where he led the Badgers to three Big Ten championships (2010-12), six consecutive bowl games and a 68-24 record (.739). Bielema then spent five seasons as head coach at Arkansas from 2013-17.

Overall, the native of Prophetstown, Illinois, Bielema compiled a 12-year record of 97-58 (.626) as head coach at Wisconsin and Arkansas.

Smith, 62, went 17-39 (10-33 in the Big Ten) in five seasons at Illinois, his first stop in college football since 1995, when he coached defensive backs at Ohio State. The Illini were 2-5 in 2020.

The Bret Bielema File

Hometown: Prophetstown, Illinois
Birthdate: January 13, 1970
Family: Wife: Jen; Children: Briella (born in 2017) and Brexli (born in 2018)
Twitter: @BretBielema
Education: B.S. in Marketing, Iowa, 1992
Playing Experience:
Iowa, 1989-92
Signed free-agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks, 1993
Milwaukee Mustangs, Arena Football League, 1994

Coaching Career

Years University/Organization Position
2021 Illinois Head Coach
2020 New York Giants Outside Linebackers, Senior Assistant Coach
2019 New England Patriots Defensive Line
2018 New England Patriots Consultant to the Head Coach
2013-17 Arkansas Head Coach (29-34)
2006-12 Wisconsin Head Coach (68-24)
2004-05 Wisconsin Defensive Coordinator
2002-03 Kansas State Co-Defensive Coordinator
1996-2001 Iowa Linebackers
1994-95 Iowa Graduate Assistant

Head Coaching Record

Years School W-L Postseason
2006 Wisconsin 12-1 (.923) Capital One Bowl
2007 Wisconsin 9-4 (.692) Outback Bowl
2008 Wisconsin 7-6 (.538) Champs Sports Bowl
2009 Wisconsin 10-3 (.769) Champs Sports Bowl
2010 Wisconsin 11-2 (.846) Rose Bowl
2011 Wisconsin 11-3 (.786) Rose Bowl
2012 Wisconsin 8-5 (.615) (Did not coach Rose Bowl)
2013 Arkansas 3-9 (.250)
2014 Arkansas 7-6 (.538) Texas Bowl
2015 Arkansas 8-5 (.615) Liberty Bowl
2016 Arkansas 7-6 (.538) Belk Bowl
2017 Arkansas 4-8 (.333)
TOTAL 12 Years Overall: 97-58 (.626)  Big Ten: 37-19 (.661)

 

Mike Tirico replacing Al Michaels on Browns-Giants due to COVID-19 protocol issues

Mike Tirico gets the relief call for Al Michaels on Browns-Giants

Al Michaels will be out of the booth Sunday when NBC broadcasts the Cleveland Browns-New York Giants game.

The 76-year-old legendary voice failed to clear COVID-19 protocols and will be replaced by Mike Tirico.

Tirico has filled in for Michaels on his bye weeks in the past, including Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Buffalo Bills game.

Michaels said in a statement that he feels fine and has a temperature of 97.5 with no symptoms.

The shift of Tirico caused another move in play-by-play for Week 15 as he was originally on the call for the Carolina Panthers-Green Bay Packers game.

The assignment there goes to Joe Davis.

NFL reveals Week 15 announcers’ schedule

The Week 15 assignments are out for NFL games. What announcers will be where?

We’re down to three weeks of the regular season. The stakes rise for teams trying to make the playoffs. What announcers have gotten the prime calls on games that could impact the postseason?

Here’s your coverage map to see what games will be in your region.

Thursday, 8:20 p.m.

Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders

FOX/NFL Network/Amazon

Announcers: Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), Erin Andrews (reporter), Kristina Pink (reporter)

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos

NFL Network

Announcers: Adam Amin (play-by-play), Mark Schlereth (analyst), Lindsay Czarniak (reporter)

8:15 p.m.

Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers

NFL Network

Announcers: Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Kurt Warner (analyst), Melissa Stark (reporter)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

CBS

Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), Evan Washburn (reporter)

San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys

CBS

Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Trent Green (analyst), Melanie Collins (reporter)

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

CBS

Announcers: Greg Gumbel (play-by-play), Rich Gannon (analyst), Jay Feely (reporter)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens

CBS

Announcers: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), James Lofton (analyst), Sherree Burruss (reporter)

Detroit Lions at Tennessee Titans

(CBS)

Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Adam Archuleta (analyst)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons

FOX

Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (analyst), Pam Oliver (reporter)

Seattle Seahawks at Washington Football Team

Announcers: Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Jonathan Vilma (analyst), Shannon Spake (reporter)

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

FOX

Announcers: Chris Myers (play-by-play), Greg Jennings (analyst), Jennifer Hale (reporter)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m.

New York Jets at Los Angeles Rams

FOX

Announcers: Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), Laura Okmin (reporter)

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

FOX

Announcers: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), Sara Walsh (reporter)

4:25 p.m.

Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints

CBS

Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (reporter)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Cleveland Browns at New York Giants

NBC

Announcers: NBC: Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Michele Tafoya (reporter)

Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

ESPN

Announcers: Steve Levy (play-by-play), Brian Griese (analyst), Louis Riddick (analyst), Lisa Salters (reporter)

Freddie Kitchens to call plays against Giants after Jason Garrett tests positive for COVID-19

With Jason Garrett testing positive for COVID-19, Freddie Kitchens calls plays against his former team

There will be a familiar person calling plays against the Cleveland Browns Sunday night when they face the New York Giants.

Freddie Kitchens was the head coach in Cleveland last season. He was fired after one year and hired by the New York Giants as tight ends coach.

Now, after offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tested positive for COVID-19, Kitchens will get the chance to call plays against his former team.

The Giants’ coaches and players did not meet in person on Monday or Tuesday. Per league guidelines, they worked remotely. The Giants did practice in person on Wednesday.

In another possible quirky coincidence, if Daniel Jones is unable to go at quarterback for Big Blue, the Giants would turn to Colt McCoy, who sttarted his NFL career in Cleveland and was there from 2010-12.

Per ESPN.com:

Kitchens’ success with the Browns late in the 2018 season earned him a promotion to head coach last year. Cleveland finished 13th in total offense during Baker Mayfield’s rookie season. He threw 19 of his rookie-record 27 touchdown passes in the final eight games under Kitchens, when the Browns went 5-3.

But Cleveland fired Kitchens after a rocky 2019 season in which Mayfield regressed and threw 21 interceptions.

First-year Giants coach Joe Judge had worked with Kitchens at Mississippi State and Alabama.

And Cleveland.com:

Kitchens’ reign in Cleveland was characterized by a dysfunctional offense that players such as Jarvis Landry said after the season had no plan after the first 15 scripted plays.

“We didn’t have a true identity,’’ Landry told cleveland.com on radio row at the Super Bowl in January. “We just couldn’t find a way to get on the same page and that hurt us.’’