Jets: I am not sure about you, but I believe that the Jets season is pretty much over. With that being said, I think that, because the Jets are not making the postseason in their wildest dreams, they need to do something that will easily create a lot of disruption between fans: lose out the rest of the season. I am proclaiming this because there is no way for a team to improve in the draft by being mediocre and getting a middle-of-the-pack pick. If the Jets finish the season 8-8 (which would be a miracle with the way they look so far), they would be receiving a 12th, 13th, or 14th overall draft pick, which – frankly speaking – isn't going to give much results. Just ask Quinton Coples! What the Jets need to do is find a way to lose. They need to play well, but not well enough to win. Why? Because, in result, they would get a very low draft pick. With a below-10th overall pick, the Jets have an option to trade down or up to get something good in return, or they could draft at the 9th spot and get a young WR, RB or maybe even QB if the situation is dire enough. Brian Costello of the NY Post tweeted Tuesday, “If the season ended today, the Jets would have the No. 9 pick in the 2013 Draft.”
Knicks: I'm just not sold on the Knicks yet. Yes, they have a record of 4 wins and 0 losses, the only undefeated team remaining in the league. And I understand that they beat the Miami Heat on opening night and it looked like the defending champs were feeling a bit dazed about Hurricane Sandy. They also beat a Sixers team that was without Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson along with throttling a banged-up Dallas Mavericks team without Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion. Now, do not take what I am suggesting wrongly. I think the Knicks will win a lot of games this year. They will be dangerous from downtown for 82 games, they have a renewed defensive mindset, and point-guards Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd have been shockingly good early. But, I am still not sold. I have been asked quite often by people about what will sway me to the Knicks side, and this is my constant answer: Let’s see how they perform in their next seven games; six of which are on the road. I am curious to see what they will muster in a back-to-back that involves playing at San Antonio and Memphis. I think Tuesday vs. the Magic is a “conditioning” game to get them in gear for the road trip. If the Knicks can come out of these seven games with an 8-3 record, I'll be more than happy! I think they can beat Memphis, but as to whether they can tango with the Spurs…I’m just not sure yet. So, the bottom line for me is that I want to see the Knickerbockers finish this seven game stretch with at least four wins. If that happens, then I may be sold on NY. “We've only been out on the road one game, so I'm a big believer in you've got to do everything right on the road to win.” Head coach Mike Woodson said, “And we have been playing some pretty good basketball, and I like everything about the way we've been playing. But the road's a different beast and guys have got to be committed and ready to go once you get out on the road.”
Giants: While I don't think that Giants fans should be panicking exactly, I do think that there is reason for concern. Yes, they have been routinely bad in the month of November and the second half of NFL seasons under Tom Coughlin. But, I am starting to doubt this team with the way they played Sunday in a horrendous loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. They are currently 6-4 and it looks like the only competitor currently in the NFC East is the Dallas Cowboys, but I still have major questions about them conquering their remaining schedule. Coming out of the bye week, the Giants have a prime time game against the Packers at MetLife stadium, and their defense will need to come up big because Green Bay has a quarterback in Aaron Rodgers that is quietly having a breakout year. After they play the Pack, they are at the Redskins, hosting the Saints, at the Falcons, at the Ravens, and finish the season with a home game versus the Eagles. Not exactly a stroll in the park for the Giants! I see two games, right now, that look like wins on paper: Redskins and Eagles. And a lot is depending on what Eagles team shows up on Week 17. “We got to get back to the basics,” Giants safety Antrel Rolle said on a radio interview, “and get back to playing football the way we know how to play football and being a disciplined unit because that’s what gave us the run that we went on last season.”
Knicks: I'm just not sold on the Knicks yet. Yes, they have a record of 4 wins and 0 losses, the only undefeated team remaining in the league. And I understand that they beat the Miami Heat on opening night and it looked like the defending champs were feeling a bit dazed about Hurricane Sandy. They also beat a Sixers team that was without Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson along with throttling a banged-up Dallas Mavericks team without Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion. Now, do not take what I am suggesting wrongly. I think the Knicks will win a lot of games this year. They will be dangerous from downtown for 82 games, they have a renewed defensive mindset, and point-guards Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd have been shockingly good early. But, I am still not sold. I have been asked quite often by people about what will sway me to the Knicks side, and this is my constant answer: Let’s see how they perform in their next seven games; six of which are on the road. I am curious to see what they will muster in a back-to-back that involves playing at San Antonio and Memphis. I think Tuesday vs. the Magic is a “conditioning” game to get them in gear for the road trip. If the Knicks can come out of these seven games with an 8-3 record, I'll be more than happy! I think they can beat Memphis, but as to whether they can tango with the Spurs…I’m just not sure yet. So, the bottom line for me is that I want to see the Knickerbockers finish this seven game stretch with at least four wins. If that happens, then I may be sold on NY. “We've only been out on the road one game, so I'm a big believer in you've got to do everything right on the road to win.” Head coach Mike Woodson said, “And we have been playing some pretty good basketball, and I like everything about the way we've been playing. But the road's a different beast and guys have got to be committed and ready to go once you get out on the road.”
Giants: While I don't think that Giants fans should be panicking exactly, I do think that there is reason for concern. Yes, they have been routinely bad in the month of November and the second half of NFL seasons under Tom Coughlin. But, I am starting to doubt this team with the way they played Sunday in a horrendous loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. They are currently 6-4 and it looks like the only competitor currently in the NFC East is the Dallas Cowboys, but I still have major questions about them conquering their remaining schedule. Coming out of the bye week, the Giants have a prime time game against the Packers at MetLife stadium, and their defense will need to come up big because Green Bay has a quarterback in Aaron Rodgers that is quietly having a breakout year. After they play the Pack, they are at the Redskins, hosting the Saints, at the Falcons, at the Ravens, and finish the season with a home game versus the Eagles. Not exactly a stroll in the park for the Giants! I see two games, right now, that look like wins on paper: Redskins and Eagles. And a lot is depending on what Eagles team shows up on Week 17. “We got to get back to the basics,” Giants safety Antrel Rolle said on a radio interview, “and get back to playing football the way we know how to play football and being a disciplined unit because that’s what gave us the run that we went on last season.”
--- Posted TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
