New York and New Jersey Hail the New York Giants: The New York Football Giants received a heroes welcome yesterday in lower Manhattan as the Giants were given a ticker-tape parade by New York City. While there have been a total of 177 parades up the Canyon of Heroes since the first one in 1886, this was the first such parade for a championship football team. New York had not hosted a ticker tape parade since 2000 when the Yankees won the World Series.
The crowd was estimated in the hundreds of thousands.
“It was phenomenal – much more than I expected,” said DE Michael Stahan. “You can never imagine seeing that many people lining the streets with stuff coming down – you can’t even describe it. I spent more time videotaping than anything else. Now you realize how big it was. When I go home and watch this tape it’s going to blow my mind.”
“I felt like I could go out and play another game,” said RG Chris Snee. “So much energy, so much excitement. You can really see what it means to a city.”
Following the parade, a team rally was held at Giants Stadium where an estimated 20,000 fans greeted and thanked the team. “It’s good to finally hear some cheers in Giants Stadium,” said QB Eli Manning.
Steve Spagnuolo Courted by Redskins: According press reports, Giants’ Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke by phone with Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder for 90 minutes on Monday regarding Washington’s head coaching vacancy. Yesterday, after the parade and rally at Giants Stadium, Spagnuolo was picked up by one of Snyder’s private jets so he could talk face-to-face with Snyder and stay the evening in Snyder’s guest house. Further talks are scheduled for today.
“Sure, I’ll talk to him,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “But we’re just going to see where it goes. What else are you going to do? We want him here. He knows that. He’s a young man that’s going to have a lot of options.”
“We are going to do our best to keep him,” said Giants’ President and CEO John Mara.
“We’ll do everything we can to keep him here,” said General Manager Jerry Reese. “He’s obviously been a great asset to us.”
Free Agency Starts in March: The Giants’ front office will not have much down time as free agency is set to begin next month. Two Giants’ starters – FS Gibril Wilson and LB Kawika Mitchell – are set to be unrestricted free agents.
“(General Manager Jerry Reese) told me he wants to keep me so we’ll see,” said Wilson. “You still have to feel wanted.” Newsday is reporting that Wilson will be seeking a 4-year deal with a signing bonus of at least $11 million.
“I would love to come back, but you never know,” said Mitchell. “Especially after last season (when only the Giants offered me a contract), I never assume anything anymore.”
Meanwhile, The Star-Ledger is reporting that the Giants have begun negotiations with HB Derrick Ward, who is also scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The sides are supposedly discussing a 3- or 4-year deal.
LB Reggie Torbor is also set to be an unrestricted free agent. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about (free agency), but it’s not at the top of my priority list right now,” said Torbor. “I’d love to come back. We all know this is a business and sometimes things don’t work out, but I’d love to stay a Giant.”
“You do want your players,” said Reese. “I have a sense of urgency to get some players done but you still want to make the right decision on your players. You want to keep the right guy. We’re making a big effort to keep the right guys.”
Futures of Strahan and Feagles Still Cloudy: DE Michael Strahan has one more year left on his current contract. P Jeff Feagles will be an unrestricted free agent in March. Neither has committed to returning to the Giants next season.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” said Strahan.
“No announcements today,” said Feagles yesterday.
Injury Update: WR Amani Toomer may have broken his right hand in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl. Also it was revealed that LT David Diehl played most of the 2007 season with a torn ligament in his thumb. WR Plaxico Burress’ knee injury prevented him from attending the parade, but not the team rally in New Jersey.
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