The Platters had a huge hit in the ‘50’s with the song “The Great Pretender”. It went something like
“…Oh - Oh, yes, I’m The Great Pretender
Pretending that I’m doing well
My need is such
I pretend too much
I’m lonely but no one can tell…”
That’s a synopsis of both the song and the next team up on the Packers Perfection ’11 Tour.
The New York Giants are the NFL’s Great Pretenders. They want to be a contender. They claim to be a contender. They talk like they’re a contender. But at every opportunity to prove the critics wrong and prove themselves worthy they fall dismally short of the mark. Their QB, Eli Manning, publicly declared himself in the same class as Tom Brady. Yes, Eli did that one on his own, something big brother Peyton never had to or would think of doing.
Eli does seem to get the bum’s rush, especially in the harsh New York media. He is the perpetual little brother of the King of the Hill and always seems to be yapping at the heels of the big dogs trying to prove himself. Okay, he and Peyton have the same father and same number of Super Bowl rings. The same can’t be said of the body of work. Eli has had the horses around him while Peyton has had to make do most times with what’s available. Peyton wears a perpetual scowl on the field that let’s everyone from the opponent to his head coach to his teammates who exactly is in charge and running this show while Eli bears the countenance of a little boy who has just been told there’s not enough pudding left for dessert. This hardly rallies the troops in tough times.
Peyton could marshal the troops just by his presence. Eli fails to inspire. Even Marvin Harrison was not exempt from one of Peyton’s blistering tirades. Drop a pass and Peyton chews your ass like a dog with a new toy. Eli? The eyes roll, the hands get turned palms up to the heaven’s, he turns away with a “Why me?” look.
Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.
So when the G-Men went into the Big Easy knowing full well they had to put in a full night’s work against the revitalized Saints and the second best QB in the league in Drew Brees they tanked. Literally got blown out of the Dome before the jambalaya had settled. This is for the Giants very playoff life we’re talking about. And Big Blue – a laughable moniker at this point as there is little to fear in the imagery – has not fared well going back to last year in games that Eli could prove himself and his team as worthy opponents.
For a quick refresher going back a year the Packers were on life support. They had lost Aaron Rodgers, lost ugly to the Lions 7 - 3 and then lost to the Patriots in a valiant effort led by backup QB Matt Flynn. They were looking at 6 losses and the red hot Giants coming into town. Green Bay faced the game knowing Rodgers was just coming back after a big blow to the head and they owned a losing streak and their next loss would kill their playoff shot, which was, to be fair, slim at best. The Giants knew that as well, and a win at Green Bay all but punches their ticket in.
And the Giants got their ever loving asses collectively kicked as Manning stunk the joint out while Rodgers led an epic end of season charge that hasn’t yet ended.
Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.
Eli and the Giants have been trying to make a serious run at the playoffs this year, or so they say. But Brees threw up another big day while Manning threw up all over himself and the Giants season. Contenders? Please. The hallmark of the Giants is their pass rush. The intimidation ‘it’ factor that sends chills down the spine of the other teams QB. The Giants and Eli talk a good game but it has been so long since they followed it up with a performance on the field they are hard to take with a straight face. That’s their season in a nutshell… the New York Giants, the NFL’s Great Pretenders
But Eli comes out and says, yeah… he is in Tom Brady’s class.
Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.
A memo to the erstwhile Little Mr. Manning. That was the second best offense in football last week you guys laid an egg against. This week you all get the Varsity team, and they beat up the guys that just beat you up pretty good.
There are, as is the case this time of year, the missing and wounded for both teams. The Packers are still without LT Chad Clifton who injured his back while weight training to prepare after his hamstring injury. Out as well is RG Josh Sitton who strained a knee in the back alley brawl against the dirtiest player in the league Ndamukong Suh and the Lions last week. And OLB Eric Walden was arrested and charged with a domestic battery allegation last week and spent the weekend in lockup, so whether or not he plays and how effective he can be remains to be seen. ILB’s A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop both left with calf injuries and they will be game day decisions based on how the herd travels.
The Giants are missing DE Osi Uminyora, but given the sorry state of the Giants pass rush it may be hard to notice. The key to the Giants has always been their defense, and in particular their ability to get to the other teams QB. That’s something that has head coach Tom Coughlin seeing redder than Santa’s suit these days and does not bode well for New York. The Packers may be forced into using a combination of Marshall Newhouse, Derrick Sherrod, Evan Dietrich Smith and huge G Rey Dominguez as a platoon type of line this week. With Sitton out OC Joe Philbin and Head Coach Mike McCarthy may employ more rollouts to give Rodgers more time and allow him to use his legs and his arm. If there has been a more accurate passer on the rollout than Rodgers we can’t think of a name. Yes, there have been good rollout QB’s and scrambling QB’s, but Rodgers is seemingly more accurate on the rollout than sitting in the pocket. Rodgers unique ability to put a ball in a bread box sized opening from 25 yards or more while on the run is unbelievable. His combination of touch, accuracy, athleticism, decision making and arm strength has never been seen in Green Bay, not in one QB, and is what is driving Arod to his first and well deserved MVP of his career.
Some critics want to take shots at Green Bay’s defense, especially against the pass. This is a hugely misleading stat. The Packers offense is putting up so many points that the other teams are forced into trying to play catch up and long, clock killing drives from behind do not get the job done. The pack D gives up points and yards, but they also lead the league with 22 interceptions, they lead the NFL in turnovers and points scored by a defense. It is a bend but don’t break D and now that Tramon Williams’ troublesome shoulder seems to be healed his play his elevated as well.
On the positive side the Packers D will finally see DE Mike Neal on the field. He has some spot assignments against Detroit, and now he should be healed from a preseason knee injury and Dom Capers says none too soon.
The Packers are beginning to talk perfection. McCarthy has done a masterful job of keeping it one week at a time. With the veteran leadership on the team the Packers are on a roll and have been focused every week, every game. Now with 10 days rest and Eli’s Pretenders in town Eli can say he’s in Tom Brady’s class all he wants.
Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.
It won’t translate on the field as the Giants endure their second consecutive butt whipping while Eli throws up a few more wounded ducks to be picked off against a much better defense than he saw last week and a much better defense than anyone wants to acknowledge in Green Bay. The Giant running game is as ineffective as their pass rush of late. Bruising RB’s Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have not carried the mail while Bradshaw’s unhappiness over his contract has played out onto the field. Rodgers and the Pack keep on rolling, their only question being how to play out the string for the last 4 games? Perfection, or prepare for the playoffs?
One note on Brady worth bringing up. Brady is a defiant QB and has a long body of work in bringing his team back from the edge. He has done it and proven it, and he is of the mindset he is going to do it again and again. There is no need to forward his own opinion of himself. That’s what makes Tom Brady Tom Brady. Aaron Rodgers faced this type of game last year and was relentless in carving up the vaunted Giant defense. Eli? After this game Eli will no doubt have his head hung, exasperated look on his face, his arms outstretched with the palms turned up to the heaven’s and the football gods after having tossed a few more picks. The Giants season as the Great Pretender ends with a whimper and not a bang.
Yeah, Eli… you’re in Tom Brady’s class all right.
GREEN BAY 41
New York 19
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