Hate It or Love It

I have a love/hate relationship with NFL preseason games. I love em cuz it means that football, no matter how sloppy and uncoordinated, starts in August, not September. It means that I get to take a look at some of my favorite teams before the season starts, find strengths and flaws, and see how the team gels. Preseason gives you a rare look at guys who never take the field in the reg season, backups, guys who wanna make the team, and rookies. Preseason is also the time of unlikely, untimely, unexpected, devastating, too-fuckin-early-ass injuries. EVERY preseason, without fail, players get hurt. Some with tweaked ankles, others with season ending injuries. The New York Giants played the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night and OMG did we feel it! First of all, the Giants didn't look that great, yet they eeked out a 13-12 win. Baltimore's defense is sick!! The Giants lost 5, count em - 5, guys in this game. Back to back injuries, hell, I even got hurt! Some guys look like they'll be ready to go for the season opener, others are DONE for the season.

1) CB Sam Madison – Pulled Hamstring
He injured this same hamstring last season and missed about 4 weeks. Season opener? It's questionable.

2) FS Will Demps – Dislocated Elbow
He said he's had this injury before in is career and he was back in 2-3 weeks. Doctors, however, say the healing process takes more like 4-6 weeks. We'll see, but as for now, count his ass out.

3) WR Steve Smith – Concussion
He scored the only touchdown of the game for the Giants. Eli really threaded the needle with the pass he threw to Smith in the end zone. As he caught it, 2 defensive players converged on him, he caught an elbow to the head, and he suffered a concussion. He returned to practice Tuesday, and he's lookin like he should be ready to go.

4) PR Michael Jennings – Torn Achilles Tendon

Jennings caught a nice ass pass as he was going out of bounds. Somehow, someway during the scramble the shit popped. You already know how I feel about the Achilles. Damn that Achilles!!

5) C Greg Ruegamer – Sprained Ankle
Backup center, hopefully it stays just a sprained ankle.

Not only that, there was another scare on the sidelines. Third string QB Jared Lorenzen ran out of bounds on a play and stepped on RB Brandon Jacobs foot. Big ass 6'4, 285 lb Lorenzen steppin on big ass 6'4, 264 lb Jacobs foot. Jacobs ended up ok, but damn. We cannot afford to have Jacobs injured, missing games with a foot injury. We all saw what happened to Shaun Alexander last season...

For the Ravens, Troy Smith came out in the 4th quarter and as a Big Ten fanatic, it was nice to see him on the field. He looked good, and if there was more time on the clock he might have been able to lead them to a game winning score. He's fightin for the 3rd QB spot against Drew "Who" Olson, and uhh, the Heisman Winner will get it. He was 4-8 for 60 yards. Smith learning from Steve McNair? He did his thing at OSU, and his future, like his past, is very bright.

2007-2008 NFL Season Is Underway!!

So I just blinked and the summer is over and NFL preseason games startstomorrow! WTF!?! Where have you been all my life? Click here to see the entire preseason schedule. I am sooo excited for 4 straight weeks of preseason games. This is the best August I've had since, well, last August. Game 1 is tomorrow night, Sunday, August 5. It's the Hall of Fame Weekend game, Pittsburgh Steelers @ New Orleans Saints. Some preseason games will be nationally televised on NFL Network, CBS and Fox. The games will be on Thursday through Monday! In my opinion, a balla ass 5 day weekend! You get to see how teams are getting along with the moves they made in the offseason, draft and trades. See if the offense and defense gel. Who is the mighty powerhouse that will fall? What teams are sleepers? So much to look forward to, I can't wait.

The only downside to preseason is not being able to see much of the regular season starters. The QB will take a couple of snaps and then completely disappear. The running backs get a few carries, the wide receivers a few catches, then sit on the sidelines. The upside to this is being able to see the guys who never really get a chance to play. There are a lot of backups who are actually good and in some cases, better than the first string.

Last year I went to a Giants preseason game against the New England Patriots and I got to see big man Jared Lorenzen at QB. And let me tell you, I'm a fan! He also won the game for the GMen last preseason against the Baltimore Ravens. Also known affectionately as the, The Pillsbury Throwboy," Lorenzen's a third year player who went undrafted out of Kentucky. I don't know what the Giants have planned for him but I wish they would use him more. I know the G-Men are married to the idea of having Eli Manning as quarterback, and don't get me wrong, I like him too. This whole time he's been like my little baby, I just wanna pinch his widdle cheeks! Anytime people said bad things about him, I took up for him, like a big sister would. But if he can't get it together this season instead of crumbling under pressure, Lorenzen, AKA Hefty Lefty, deserves a chance. He has a good arm, and for his size, 6'4" 285, he's pretty good on his feet.