Gameday News- Jets v Giaints 10/7

[Kentucky Jet]

Exclusive NY DAILY NEWS

Michael Strahan's ex-wife claims Giant star's book is lies

BY ELIZABETH HAYS

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, October 7th 2007, 4:00 AM

The mud is still flying in Michael Strahan's messy divorce, as his embattled ex-wife yesterday accused him of telling "lies" about her in his new book due out this week.

In "Inside the Helmet," set to hit shelves Tuesday, the Giants sackmaster paints his ex-wife, Jean, as a gold-digger.

He says she siphoned millions from him even before their high-profile divorce and describes her as being too cheap to let him buy his parents a modest $160,000 house.

"Michael's been telling stories for years, and I don't think this story will be any different ... full of lies," Jean Strahan scoffed yesterday from the couple's Montclair, N.J., home. The opulent house was mostly emptied in a notorious tag sale and court-ordered auction this spring and fall.

"He seems to be into fiction, just like he was at trial," Jean said about Strahan's new autobiography, written with sports journalist Jay Glazer.

The book, which mostly chronicles Strahan's 14 years in the NFL, also finds time to kick up the dirt from the once-loving couple's bitter divorce, which played out in the papers last year amid accusations of physical abuse, infidelity and wild spending.

At one point, Jean sparked an uproar when she accused her husband of living an "alternative lifestyle" after he moved out. Later she said she didn't mean he was gay, just a philanderer.

In January, a judge upheld a prenuptial agreement and awarded Jean a $15.3 million payout - more than half Strahan's $23 million fortune.

Strahan argued she should get no more than $7 million. He is still contesting the decision. Jean also gets $18,000 a month in support for their twin daughters.

In a chapter called "A cautionary Tale: Women, Money and Scams," Strahan alleges that Jean began cashing out before the divorce.

In 2005, after their problems began, Strahan claims he came home one night to find $1.6 million missing from a joint bank account.

After he confronted her, Strahan charges that Jean siphoned off another $1.7 million after he left the house to cool off, and then called the cops to say he was threatening her.

While Strahan was being hauled into the police station for questioning, Strahan claims, Jean cleaned out the rest of the account.

"I made you and I will break you," Strahan charges were among Jean's last words to him.

Meanwhile, Strahan also accuses Jean of being so greedy that she nitpicked about $13,000 when it came to buying his parents their dream house.

Though he had budgeted $500,000 to make good on a promise to buy them a new home if he made it big, Strahan claims Jean balked when his parents fell in love with a house that cost just $160,000.

Instead, he writes, Jean made them settle for one that cost $147,000.

ehays@nydailynews.com

[Kentucky Jet]

In August, Eric Mangini became the sixth member of a Jets coaching fraternity to experience the surreal feeling of being treated like an enemy in his own home.

The Jets were the "road" team in the annual preseason game against the Giants. Mangini was struck by the sharp color (blue) and unmistakable sound (boo!) of the Meadowlands, which will have a new, co-owned stadium in 2010.

"It's a very different walk through the tunnel when you're playing the Giants and they're the home team," said Mangini, who will make that same walk today. "They're a little less friendly than our group."

If the Jets fall to 1-4, Mangini & Co. might get the same treatment at next week's home game against the Eagles. The fans are getting restless.

Welcome to New York-New York, chapter 11. (The all-time tally: Giants 6, Jets 4.) Be honest, this isn't how you expected your blue and green heroes to arrive at this much-anticipated showdown.

One month into the season, it's Mangini, not Tom Coughlin, feeling the heat.

The rejuvenated Giants (2-2) are riding a two-game winning streak, reducing the pressure (for now) on Coughlin. The Jets, coming off an embarrassing loss to the Bills, are searching for an identity. They're underachieving in the second year of the Mangini regime, giving the young coach his first taste of adversity.

Clearly, there's more pressure on the Jets, who could be one loss away from falling out of contention. They're struggling to recapture the mojo that made them one of the NFL's darlings in 2006, putting them in a virtual must-win situation against their cross-stadium rivals.

"We know we have to play now," safety Kerry Rhodes said. "We can't make too many more mistakes or the season will be over."

It all seemed so promising in training camp, when the Jets were practicing to Mozart and anticipating beautiful music under the so-called "Mangenius." Lately, the team has been hitting some bad notes, causing some players to wonder.

They've been conservative on both sides of the ball, reacting instead of attacking. The best example came last week, when Mangini punted on a fourth-and-1 in Bills territory on the opening drive.

They're not giving enough opportunities to their top playmakers, Rhodes, wide receiver Laveranues Coles and running back Thomas Jones.

They're starting slowly (only seven first-quarter points), a problem from last season that still hasn't been solved. As a result, they've trailed in 13 of 16 quarters.

Paging Teddy Atlas. Please report to the Jets for a team pep talk.

Despite the struggles, Mangini has shown no signs of panic, maintaining the same even-keeled, poker-faced demeanor day after day. He could be a modern-day Tom Landry, sans the fedora and the championships. He takes issue with those who question his sense of urgency.

"It's controlled focus, controlled emotion and controlled intensity," said Mangini, who, as you may have guessed, likes to be in control.

In Mangini's 20-game tenure, the Jets have suffered only two two-game losing streaks, a show of consistency that some players attribute to the coach's level-headed approach. If others believe differently, they keep their mouths shut. As Coles said, "I've been brainwashed."

Today's game will say a lot about Mangini as a motivator and a tactician.

The Giants, emboldened by their 12-sack win over the Eagles, are peaking with confidence. They haven't allowed a touchdown in six straight quarters. For a change, they can toot their own horn instead of blasting one at unsuspecting reporters. Their multi-faceted, blitz-heavy defense, led by Osi Umenyiora, will present a major problem for the Jets.

"I can guarantee you, I won't have another six sacks this week," said Umenyiora, who didn't say anything about five.

The Giants' defense hasn't arrived just yet - after all, they beat up two teams with offensive line issues - but a dozen sacks are a dozen sacks. That's a half-season for the Jets, who have only 12 in their last eight games. Mangini and coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will have a plan to protect Chad Pennington, who will rely on quick reads and quicker passes.

"It's tough not to get happy feet," said Pennington, who still has an unhappy right ankle that could be affecting him. "It's tough not to try to get rid of the ball earlier because of what's happened on previous plays. That's the hardest thing."

Privately, the Giants are licking their chops. They see Pennington as an immobile quarterback who can't throw the ball more than 20 yards downfield. They will try to get in his face and attempt to jump receivers' routes. Coughlin, though, sees Pennington as his biggest concern.

"The first thing that jumps out at me is that the quarterback has a 105 rating and a 70% completion rate," he said. "They're a very talented team."

The Jets don't have as many dynamic playmakers as the Giants, who feature Umenyiora and wide receiver Plaxico Burress, but they might be able to outsmart them with clever play calling.

If the Giants' pass rush gets hot, Schottenheimer can cool it off with screen passes and draw plays to Jones and Leon Washington.

If Eli Manning finds a rhythm and emerges from his three-game rut, the Jets can send Rhodes after him. A year ago, he was a weapon on blindside blitzes, but the coaches have forgotten about him. This would be a good time to dust off those old game plans.

It's desperation time. For both teams, really. The Giants scoffed at the notion that the game doesn't mean as much to them.

"Well, we're 2-2

[Kentucky Jet]

PLAYBOOK

BY HANK GOLA

Jets at Giants at Giants Stadium, 1 p.m.

The Line: Giants by 3

TV: Ch. 2 (Dick Enberg, Randy Cross)

Radio: WEPN-1050 AM, WABC-770 AM (Bob Wischusen, Marty Lyons), WFAN-660 AM (Bob Papa, Dick Lynch, Carl Banks), Nationwide on Sports USA Radio (Larry Kahn, Tim Pernetti)

Forecast: Sunny and hot.

Injury Impact

Giants back Brandon Jacobs (knee) is expected to play for first time since Week 1. Jets safety Erik Coleman sits this one out with a concussion, giving second-year man Eric Smith the start. Giants WR Plaxico Burress will play after resting his ankle all week, although his timing with Eli Manning seems to be off while missing every practice. Bookend DEs Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan have sore knees but will play.

Feature Matchup

WR Plaxico Burress vs. CBs David Barrett and Darrelle Revis: The Jets should be happy that Burress is banged up and somewhat out of synch with his QB because with Burress' height and reach, this has nightmare possibilities. The Bills went after Revis last week and the Giants would particularly love to isolate the wily 6-5 Burress against the 5-11 rookie (and the tallest of the Jet CBs) who still hasn't been able to find his way. Burress can be very effective in the end zone running the fade. LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson vs. DE Osi Umenyiora: Umenyiora feasted on Eagles OT Winston Justice and his cohorts for six of the Giants' 12 sacks but Ferguson comes off two shutout games against premier pass rushers Jason Taylor and Aaron Schoebel. Protecting Pennington, something the Jets have been doing better lately, is paramount because the Jet WRs are capable of beating the Giants' secondary. Their problem is that the Giants can rush the passer from everywhere with stunts and twists along the entire defensive front.

Scout Says

"Jeremy Shockey spent last week in pass protection but the Jets have had problems covering the tight end, which has limited what they can do with Kerry Rhodes. I expect Shockey to be a big part of the game plan, especially with Erik Coleman out. We should also see a lot more 4-3 from the Jets, who have to be concerned about Brandon Jacobs pounding them. The Jets will use a lot of no-huddle and run out of it to keep (Defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo from matching personnel. The Jets can't abandon the run as they did in Buffalo, especially since the Giants linebackers can be attacked.

Intangibles

Revived after beating two straight divisional rivals, the Giants could be on the verge of something big with the beatable Falcons, Niners and Dolphins lined up after the Jets and into the bye week. At the very least, they need the Ws to keep up with the Cowboys. Catching the Pats is now a fleeting thought for the Jets, whose wild-card hopes may soon be flying off as well.

Prediction

Giants, 24-17. Too many matchups go Giants' way.

[124]

You wake up way too early dude.

I wouldn't be up but I woke up at 330 and havn't been able to get back to sleep and am leaving in about 45 minutes to go to the game.

[Kentucky Jet]

Position v position matchups

BY RALPH VACCHIANO

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Sunday, October 7th 2007, 4:00 AM

QUARTERBACKS

If you're looking for a big arm and long-term potential, Eli Manning is clearly the guy because his upside is much greater. But Chad Pennington is far more efficient, a much better game manager, sees things better and has better touch. Plus, just look at his numbers. He's completed an unbelievable 76.8 percent of his passes with only two interceptions and has a quarterback rating of 105.8. Manning (59.8 percent, five picks, 81.9) can't compare to that.

Edge: Jets

RUNNING BACKS

Thomas Jones has the best resume of the group, but he really hasn't gotten going yet this season (though maybe that's because of his offensive line). Derrick Ward has been terrific for the Giants and has more yards (353) than the entire Jets team (330). Plus, now he's rejoined by the 6-4, 264-pound Brandon Jacobs for a very powerful 1-2 punch.

Edge: Giants

WIDE RECEIVERS Plaxico Burress is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season even on a bad ankle, and Amani Toomer has been quietly right behind him. But the Jet receiving corps is pretty good, too. Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles have combined for 50 catches for nearly 600 yards, which is way better than Burress and Toomer. Neither team has developed a solid No. 3 receiver, but the first two on both teams are more than good enough.

Edge: Even

TIGHT ENDS

It would be nice if Jeremy Shockey got a little more involved in the offense (and didn't drop passes when they did go to him) but he's still more dangerous than Chris Baker, who has the best hands on the Jets and is a threat in the red zone. Unfortunately for Baker, the Jets rarely use him otherwise.

Edge: Giants

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Jets might have the edge at center, where Nick Mangold is an emerging star, but the Giants have it everywhere else on the line, especially now that David Diehl has proven he can handle left tackle. The Giants are equally adept at run-blocking and pass-blocking. Meanwhile, the Jets have yet to replace G Pete Kendall and are constantly required to max protect to give Pennington time.

Edge: Giants

DEFENSIVE LINE

Osi Umenyiora has six sacks. Justin Tuck has four. The Jets, as a team, have three. Only two (both by Shaun Ellis) have come from their defensive line. This is the biggest mismatch in the matchups between the two teams, and might be the key to the entire game for the suddenly sack-happy Giants.

Edge: Giants

LINEBACKERS

Neither unit is much better than average, but at least the Jets have a solid, consistent star in Jonathan Vilma. Both crews have had problems in coverage, but the Giants' unit was an absolute disaster in that area the first two weeks. The Jets have a deeper unit, too, thanks to their 3-4. The Giants will be better when Mathias Kiwanuka learns to play an all-around game at the position. But until then...

Edge: Jets

SECONDARY

S Kerry Rhodes is the best defensive back in this game and puts the Jets over the top, even though other problems have limited what the Jets can do with him. Jets rookie CB Darrelle Revis probably has the most potential of any DB on the field, although Giants rookie CB Aaron Ross out-performed him in his one start. There's not a lot of good hands anywhere in either unit.

Edge: Jets

SPECIAL TEAMS

Mike Westhoff is one of the most innovative special teams coaches in the league, and Leon Washington makes the Jets a far more dangerous return team. Giants punter Jeff Feagles is the best in the game and the Giants' coverage teams are better. But the placekicking situation for the Giants (Lawrence Tynes) has been so shaky, even Tom Coughlin is worried.

Edge: Jets

COACHING

Tom Coughlin seems to be getting through to his team better - at least the last two weeks. But as he knows, that can change quickly in the Giants' locker room. Meanwhile, Eric is no longer a Mangenius, apparently, and the magic touch from his rookie season has deserted him. Coughlin's in a must-win year. Mangini's in a must-win game. Lots of pressure all around.

Edge: Even

with Rich Cimini, Gary Myers and Hank Gola

[Kentucky Jet]

Giants Have Slight Edge in Battle of Meadowlands

Here we go: Jets versus Giants. Let

[Kentucky Jet]

Lawrence Taylor sack still replays on Ken O'Brien's mind

Sunday, October 7th 2007, 4:00 AM

Even today, 22 years after the play that seemingly will live on forever thanks to NFL Films, Ken O'Brien still hears about Lawrence Taylor's infamous sack and the words that followed.

"Son, you all got to do better than this," Taylor said as he was on top of O'Brien.

As the Giants and Jets face each other today at the Meadowlands, there almost certainly will be a replay somewhere on television or at the stadium of Taylor's sack on O'Brien in the Giants' 34-31 overtime preseason win over the Jets on Aug. 24, 1985.

Since it was the first and only time Taylor was wired by NFL Films - that was the same game when Taylor pumped up his defense by telling them to play "like a bunch of crazed dogs" - the legendary linebacker's sack and disapproving message to O'Brien is now a part of Giants lore.

Even in Southern California where O'Brien lives now, he still hears about the Taylor sack, which is constantly replayed on NFL highlights. O'Brien, who recently coached at USC as an assistant and at Loyola High School in Los Angeles where he is now a volunteer coach, is constantly reminded of the sack from his players.

"It's looped forever," O'Brien said with a laugh on his cell phone last week. "That is always played and the kids get a big charge of that. It is a never-ending battle."

O'Brien says he and Taylor have become friends since and they talked about the sack when they ran into each other on a flight a couple of years ago.

O'Brien said he got to return the favor to Taylor shortly after that sack when he connected on a touchdown bomb to Wesley Walker. Taylor told him, "Way to go."

It wasn't until 1988 that O'Brien truly got payback when he found Al Toon in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown pass over safety Tom Flynn with 37 seconds remaining in a 27-21 win over the Giants. O'Brien's touchdown pass in that regular-season finale cost the Giants a playoff spot and shut Taylor and Giants fans up.

"You can imagine it was pretty quiet from that point on," O'Brien says.

Ohm Youngmisuk

[Kentucky Jet]

The relationship between the Jets and Giants has been competitive, contentious and even childish for more than 40 years in their high-stakes battle to establish football supremacy in New York.

But now they're 50-50 partners and need each other's money to build the $1.3 billion-and-counting stadium under construction in the Giants Stadium parking lot set to open for 2010 season. It's an unusual shotgun marriage of convenience and finances between long-time rivals after the Jets failed in their West Side stadium bid in 2005 and joined the Giants in their project.

"If the West Side stadium had come to fruition and we started building here and the costs got to where they are right now, I think it would have been financial suicide for the two teams," Giants co-owner John Mara said.

The Jets are not worried that a new stadium in an old location with a corporate name will still feel like the Giants' home. It will be dressed up in green on Jets game days and blue on Giants game days. "We want our fans to know that we own the stadium as much as any other team," Jets president Jay Cross said. "It's very important on game day there is not a vestige of the other team."

The teams speak on stadium matters several times a week, and there is a camaraderie that has developed, although it will not carry onto the field for today's crucial game, a matchup that comes just once every four years.

The Giants are the home team for the last regular-season game they will play against each other at Giants Stadium. The next time they play in the regular season will be 2011 with the Jets the home team, finally in a stadium they can call home. But for three hours today, they are rivals again.

"We were happy to have the Giants as partners," Jets owner Woody Johnson said. "It was a very good option for us. They are still a team we have to play and prepare for and we have to beat. Our mandate is very clear."

Mara is sleeping easier with Johnson agreeing to split the stadium bill. The Giants were in the early stages of the project that was estimated at $800 million-$850 million when the Jets didn't get the vote for their stadium in Manhattan. Within days, the Giants called and the teams met in Manhattan.

"I still want to win the game," Mara said. "But if you're asking me, here's your choice: Beat the Jets or beat Dallas, Philadelphia or Washington. I've got to tell you I would take the division game. If you lose this game, you forget about it. By the end of the season, who cares?"

* * *

The Giants were in the midst of a miserable 18-year run of not making the playoffs when high school student John Mara attended Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

"That was the first Super Bowl I ever went to," he said in his office at Giants Stadium last week.

It was a humiliating day in January of 1969 for the NFL when Joe Namath led the underdog Jets of the AFL to a 16-7 victory over the supposedly invincible Colts in the greatest upset in pro football history. Mara said he doesn't quite remember the reaction of his father Wellington, one of the patriarchs of the established league, to the team across town winning the championship while his proud franchise was floundering.

"But I do remember his reaction to losing the preseason game to the Jets that following summer," he said. "It was not very good."

Although the Jets were the Super Bowl champs and the Giants were coming off a 7-7 season, they didn't become champions of New York football until seven months later when they crushed the Giants, 37-14, in that preseason game at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, their first meeting.

"I remember riding over from Fairfield to New Haven on the team bus, and the tension on that bus before the game was like a playoff game atmosphere," Mara said. "We really wanted to win it. They really wanted to win. They embarrassed us that day. My father was tough to live with for a few days. That was a bitter pill to swallow. We had been kings of New York for so many years."

The Jets hold a 20-18-1 edge in the preseason games and the Giants lead 6-4 in the regular season. Since the Jets won that historic Super Bowl, they have never been back, twice making it to the AFC Championship Game. The Giants have been to three Super Bowls, winning two.

Wellington Mara, who died in 2005, and Jets owner Leon Hess, who died in 1999, were best friends. So when Hess called Mara in 1983 and asked if the Jets could move over to Giants Stadium from Shea Stadium, he was met with no resistance. They were so close that if the Giants were playing a Monday night game, Mara would sit with Hess at the Jets game if they were home that Sunday.

But it was clear the Jets felt like second-class citizens playing at a stadium with another team's name on it, adding to the image that they were the little brother. And with the Jets having to travel from Long Island, every game felt like a road game.

"I can understand that," said Bill Parcells, the only man to coach each team. "It was a little bit of a commute, particularly in the summer, getting back and forth with the traffic. I felt like when I was coaching both teams we had very good support. When I was coaching the Jets, I didn't feel like I was playing on the road. It felt like home."

The Jets tried hard to dress the place in green with bunting and signs. Still, there was the issue of the locker room.

Once the players walk off the field and through the tunnel, the Giants locker room is to the right. The Jets locker room is to the left. Until 2002, the Jets room was actually further down the corridor than the visiting team. "It drove Herm (Edwards) nuts," Cross said. "You had to walk by the visiting team to get to ours."

So, at a cost of $1.5 million, Johnson, who bought the team in 2000, had a state-of-the-art locker room built for the Jets in 2002, situated between the tunnel and the visitor's locker room. "It was a nice gesture to the team," Cross said. "We wanted to stake out some ground to really feel like home."

Parcells, who coached the Jets from 1997-99, never had an issue with the location of the locker room." That's not a big deal for me," he said. "If you are getting beat because of that - it doesn't make any difference."

Also in 2002 the Jets gave the Giants a list of 10 changes they wanted to make to Giants Stadium on game day. One of them was hanging 150-foot by 80-foot Jets banners outside the building on the east and west walls of the stadium. The Giants had no problem as long as the banners were down by Monday.

But the 10th request was a bit unsual. Johnson and the Jets wanted to cover up the two distinctive signs that say "Giants Stadium," that face outside near the top of the stadium, above where the Jets were placing the banners. One sign was visible as the players pulled into their parking lot. The Giants refused.

"That's always something we wanted to do for the Jets fans," Johnson said. "They just didn't agree with that. They were there first. They staked their claim first."

But after a September game that year, the Jets did not take down one of their huge banners. Cross thought it was because they were playing back-to-back home games and it would be a waste of time and money. Others think it might have been in retaliation for the Giants refusing to let them cover up the Giants Stadium sign.

It led to George Zoffinger of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to say at the time, "I feel like a nanny who is overseeing two billionaires fighting over a sign."

On their weekly news releases, the Jets refuse to acknowledge their games are played at Giants Stadium. It simply says "The Meadowlands."

* * *

The players share the city and often appear at the same events. They party at the same places. Wayne Chrebet and Michael Strahan are good friends. When the teams meet in the preseason, they always play with more intensity.

"Most of their guys were really cool, but there were some that had chips on their shoulders. There was incentive to show who was the real team in New York," said former Giants linebacker Carl Banks, who later worked in the Jets front office under Parcells. "But it was almost as though the Jets were the second team in New York by how they were positioned media-wise. It was kind of weird."

Former Jets defensive end Marty Lyons remembers being at a speaking engagement during his playing days before a group that was pro-Giants. "I actually got introduced and got booed before I went up to speak," he said. "I stood in front of the microphone, opened up my sports jacket and said, 'If you want to judge me because I play for the Jets, that's fine. I have my paycheck in my pocket, so I will leave. Show me the respect I deserve.'"

He was playing in a Jets-Giants offseason basketball game at Wagner College in Staten Island in the '80s when a fight broke out between a few of the younger players. "With all the hype between the Jets and Giants, the players didn't like each other," Lyons said. "A lot of the young players were trying to prove something and got into a fight. When the fight broke out, I sat on the bench. I was thinking, 'You have to be kidding.' With all the young kids in the stands, it was a poor showing by both teams, especially at a charity event."

* * *

Mara was not rooting for the Jets' West Side stadium venture to fail. "At the time, we thought we were going to do this on our own and believed the cost would be significantly less than it is right now," he said. "But certainly, in the back of my mind, if the West Side didn't materialize, it would be great to have them as partners and not compete against them in two separate buildings and also be able to share the costs."

Still, each team had its needs. "It's by definition a little bit inefficient with two of everything," Cross said. "Like Noah's Ark."

The Jets and Giants executives met for two retreats in Westchester to get on the same page.

"You had two different cultures coming at two different points of view," Johnson said. "We had been second fiddle in a stadium named for another team for all these years. Part of the difficulty is we are competitors, but not really competitors in this joint venture."

The Giants' initial plan was to put all the suites on one side of the stadium and the bowl seating on the other. The Jets wanted a traditional setup. The Giants gave in. The suites are starting at $275,000 per year. There are a handful in excess of $1 million per year, which have been sold. Well, at least if you buy in, you get the games for both teams and every event held at the stadium. If the West Side stadium had been approved, the Jets and Giants would have been competing for the same suite dollars.

Initially, the Giants planned to have their offices and locker room at the new stadium, just as it is at Giants Stadium. The Jets had no interest in having their year-round headquarters at the stadium or on site. But fearing they would be 50-50 partners in a building the Giants would be in every day, they objected to the Giants' plan. The Giants audibled, and their new facility will be built in Lots 13 and 17 in the current stadium's parking lot.

"I think in the long run we will be better off," Mara said.

The teams intend to make the new stadium so busy with events, Mara says it will be to the Giants' advantage to be away from the stadium and not "have hundreds of people walking around," as they set up concerts and other events. "It does interfere with your operations," he said.

The Jets are moving their year-round home from Hofstra in Hempstead on Long Island to a new facility in Florham Park in New Jersey. They will move their business offices there in October of 2008 with the team moving in after the '08 season. The Giants and Jets will each have four outdoor practice fields and an indoor field house to practice in bad weather.

The Giants and Jets arranged separate financing to pay for their share. They are working together on naming rights that could be worth as much as $30 million annually. They will make individual decisions on whether to charge season-ticket holders for personal seat licenses (PSLs) to defray the cost of the stadium. The teams were granted $300M through the NFL's G-3 stadium funding plan with the money repaid from the visitor's share of club seat revenue.

Technology will allow the new stadium to look blue for the Giants and green for the Jets on game day. "On Jets day, this stadium will be green as green can be," Johnson said.

Back in the summer of '69, when the Giants and Jets met for the first time at the Yale Bowl, the thought of them becoming partners would have been repulsive. Now they need each other.

Game of the week

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets vs. Giants is always an important game

BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com

October 7, 2007

The Jets and Giants have never met in the playoffs. But there's always a playoff atmosphere each time they meet.

When the teams play today in only their 11th regular-season meeting, the game will not have the inherent drama of the 1988 finale, when the Jets knocked the Giants out of playoff contention.

Today's Giants (2-2), with the reputation of their defense reinstated by dominant performances against the Redskins and Eagles, are looking to extend their two-game winning streak. The Jets (1-3), off a devastating loss to the Bills, are face to face with the fate of their season.

The teams may be different - and rare competitors - but they have some shared circumstances heading into this tilt. For all their cumulative successes, neither quarterback has cemented himself to the sometimes stony hearts of New York football fans. They grumble about the tough and brainy Chad Pennington for his lack of physical skills, vice versa for Eli Manning.

Both teams are trying to replace one of their all-time great running backs, the Giants with Tiki Barber and the Jets with Curtis Martin. And both understand what it is like to operate in the spotlight of the Big Apple, playing with the pressure of trying to repeat a playoff run from 2006, to keep their head coach from further malign.

There will not be a win-and-get-in scenario for either squad today. And although it will be a steep climb out, the loser is not eliminated from contention.

But on that final Sunday of the 1988 season, the Giants needed only to beat the lowly Jets to earn a playoff berth. What transpired in that game was a pair of comebacks, a last-minute touchdown catch - and the winning Jets celebrating their victory as if they would take the Giants' place in the postseason.

"We stole the town from them," Jets cornerback James Hasty hooted after the 27-21 win.

Said Giants receiver Lionel Manuel, "This is not the way it was supposed to be."

The Giants had won their first Super Bowl two years earlier but had yet to return to the playoffs, were trying to send retiring defensive players George Martin and Harry Carson out on a high note, and were riding a three-game winning streak to control their own destiny in the NFC East.

The Jets were fighting not only the perception but the reality that they were the city's second-class franchise. They had a roster of men playing for jobs the following season and a coaching staff on the verge of unemployment and had not won a division title since 1969.

"I know I'm going to get fired," Jets defensive coordinator Bud Carson told his players before the game, in which they mustered eight sacks, "and if you guys don't go out there and play hard, I'm going to try to take a few of you with me."

The Jets went ahead 20-7 early in the third quarter after Phil McConkey fumbled a punt that was recovered by Kurt Sohn at the Giants' 6 and Freeman McNeil scored on the next play.

But Phil Simms engineered a 67-yard drive that was capped by a 9-yard pass to a wide-open Stephen Baker off a fake reverse to make it 20-14 late in the third, then put the Giants ahead 21-20 on a 9-yard pass to Manuel with 4:54 left in the game.

The Giants then made a blunder. After squibbing kicks most of the game to avoid Bobby Humphrey, they kicked off to him late in the game and he brought the ball all the way out near midfield. Ken O'Brien, who had been benched the previous four games because of arm trouble, hit three short passes to start the final drive. On third-and-3 at the Giants' 27, he hit Mickey Shuler for 16 yards to get to the 11. After two running plays, on third-and-4 at the 5, the Jets were going to run again with the hopes of spotting the ball for a field-goal attempt. Instead, O'Brien saw Al Toon covered by cornerback Tom Flynn and audibled for a fade to the corner. It hit for the winning touchdown with 37 seconds left.

The Giants finished 10-4. The Jets finished 8-7-1.

The final insult from the Jets came when they doused coach Joe Walton with a bucket of Gatorade, mimicking the celebration the Giants had popularized only a few years earlier.

"It's tough being in a city where the other team gets all the credit all the time," O'Brien said after the game.

When the game ended, the Giants still had hopes of playing the following week. But the Eagles beat the Cowboys to clinch the division title, and later that night, the Rams beat the 49ers, who already had clinched their division and the second seed in the playoffs and were resting their starters. That win gave the Rams the final wild-card spot ahead of the Giants.

Reached at home during that late West Coast game for reaction, Simms told a reporter: "I'm sitting here watching the 49ers lie down like dogs."

[Kentucky Jet]

[MEET the ENEMY

JETS'-EYE VIEW

TOM ROCK

October 7, 2007

MEET THE ENEMY

Aaron Ross, CB

The Jets took cornerback Darrelle Revis with the 14th selection in the draft this spring. Had they been unable to trade up to that spot, however, they might have wound up taking Ross, a Texas product who was taken by the Giants with the 20th overall pick.

Ross made his first start last week, and it was a good week to get a start on defense as the Giants had 12 sacks and kept Donovan McNabb under near-constant pressure. Even Ross blitzed and hit McNabb once. He finished with five tackles and two passes defended and has 11 total tackles this season. Like Revis, he was touted as a two-way threat with punt return skills coming out of college.

LOOKING BACK

Nov. 2, 2003

The last time the two New York teams met in the regular season, it took overtime to decide the winner and very nearly ended in a tie. Brett Conway kicked the winning 29-yard field goal with just four seconds left in OT to give the Giants a 31-28 victory. He'd missed a 39-yard attempt earlier in OT. Jets kicker Doug Brien had a chance to win the game but his 51-yard attempt was blocked by Will Allen.

Chad Pennington hit Anthony Becht on a 9-yard touchdown with 29 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 28 and erase a 28-14 deficit. Pennington threw four touchdown passes, three to Santana Moss, but it was the first time in his career that Pennington threw two interceptions in a game. Curtis Martin ran for 108 yards, the first player to reach the century mark against the Giants in 14 games.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets, who will be wearing their throwback Titans uniforms, host the Eagles.

[Kentucky Jet]

For some Jets, nothing like high-school rivalry

BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com

October 7, 2007

It was always the biggest game of the year. Heck, they played it in the Silverdome, the same building that had hosted a Super Bowl. Seemed as if either team was always one of the best in the nation, loaded with talented players, vying for the title.

"It was crazy," said Jets defensive end David Bowens, who was part of the rivalry. "They made a really big deal of it. It was fun."

Was it an NFL game? College? Nope. It was the annual game between St. Mary's in West Bloomfield and Brother Rice in Orchard Lake, two of the powerhouse high school programs in Michigan.

For many of the players participating in Sunday's Jets-Giants tilt, the closest thing that can compare is their high school's crosstown rival. It was the game they circled on the schedule. It meant a year of bragging rights. Neighborhood supremacy was on the line. "We were two all-boy Catholic high schools, so there was a lot of smack-talking in the offseason," said Bowens, who played for St. Mary's. "We would always talk about who was going to win the Catholic league championship that year."

Now that they're in the NFL, all of that raw emotion is gone. Bragging rights are for adolescent punks who think these things matter and for the fans. Right? Right? Actually, some Jets said playing (and beating) the Giants is just as important as it was when they were scuffling with nearby high schools. "When we go out, we see those guys a lot," Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "If you see those guys, you want to know that you beat those guys. You won't brag about it, but your chest sticks out a little more."

Even Jonathan Vilma drew a parallel between his Coral Gables (Fla.) High team playing rival Miami High. "We used to see a lot of guys from Miami High out and around and we see a lot of the Giants guys out and around in the city," Vilma said. "We all know each other and of course we want to win. They want to win, too."

Just about every Jet could remember not only his crosstown rival but details from games against those teams, names of opposing players who either are still humbled or still gloating to this very day.

For Laveranues Coles, it was his Ribault High School team against nearby Raines High School. Those two schools in Jacksonville are so close together because they were built during segregation in the 1960s. It may be the most intense football rivalry in the nation.

Cotchery not only played his rivals at George Washington Carver High in northern Birmingham, he had to play with them. Carver closed in his junior year and all of those once-hated players came to Phillips High School, where Cotchery played.

Even Jets coach Eric Mangini, he of the no-game-is-more-important-than-any-other approach, said he fell victim to the excitement of his high school rivalries.

"There were three teams in the inner city and you always wanted to beat those teams," the Bulkeley (Conn.) High School linebacker said of games against Weaver and Hartford. "Those were usually the games that had a little bit more."

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets taking businesslike approach to showdown with Giants

By ANDREW GROSS

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: October 7, 2007)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - NFL logic suggests the Jets are facing a watershed game against the Giants today, though anointing it a make-or-break scenario is a tad deceptive.

True, a loss might very well irreparably break the season for the visiting Jets (1-3). But a victory is no guarantee of a made season.

Either way, the team is loath to think in those terms as it approaches its first regular-season game against its New York rivals since 2003. Kickoff at Giants Stadium is 1 p.m.

"You don't want to approach it like that," Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "If you approach it like that, you'll be on pins and needles throughout the game. We're just trying to have the patience."

Perhaps under a different coach, players would admit to looking at the big picture. But under Eric Mangini, Mr. Even Keel himself, the team's small-view approach has been consistent.

"We treat every situation the same, so basically every game is a must-win," Jets defensive end Eric Hicks said. "I think players, privately, will sometimes know if it's a make-or-break game, but they're really not going to talk about it because you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket."

The Jets seemingly pushed their season to the brink with a terrible 17-14 loss at Buffalo last week.

Only nine NFL teams have come back to make the playoffs after starting 1-4, the last being the Packers in 2004. Of course, that list also includes the 2002 Jets, who won the AFC East title under Herman Edwards with a 9-7 record.

Not that holdover Laveranues Coles said the current Jets can draw from that experience.

"It's in the past," the wide receiver said. "It's a different coaching staff, a different environment. It's totally different, altogether."

Teammate Andre Dyson disagrees, though. The cornerback was a member of the 2002 Tennessee Titans, who were 1-4 before reaching the AFC championship game.

"I told a few people that I have been in this situation before and made it to the AFC championship," said Dyson, in his second season with the Jets. "It is possible. You just have to take it one game at a time and keep moving on after that."

However, that one-game-at-a-time stuff can easily be mistaken for nonchalance. Mangini is certainly not a fire-and-brimstone guy, someone who is not apt to turn over a food table after a bad game.

But the second-year coach warns that such a lack of theatrics should not be mistaken for a laid-back attitude.

In his own way, Mangini has conveyed the urgency of today's game.

"Our expectations every week are a high level of intensity, a high level of focus and a high level of emotion," Mangini said. "It's controlled focus, controlled emotion, controlled intensity. Every single game needs to be approached the same way.

"My emotions have been consistent when we've been winning and when we've been losing," Mangini said. "I think they are very clear as to when I'm happy and when I'm unhappy. I think those things are conveyed and it's not a lack of a sense of urgency on anybody's part. It's a controlled sense of urgency."

The key message there being control. As in, playing under control.

"You don't want to put unnecessary pressure on yourself or on the team, especially when you're in a situation like this, because you start doing things out of character," Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. "You shouldn't put more pressure on yourself in this game because you will end up messing up more than helping the team."

Fine, the Jets must play under control today, without the undue pressure of thinking of their 1-3 start.

At the same time, NFL logic certainly suggests the Jets are playing for their season today.

"The things that happened last year really don't matter," Mangini said. "The things that are going to happen in six weeks or next year don't matter. What matters is what you're doing right at this point."

Reach Andrew Gross at apgross@lohud.com and read his Jets blog at www.jets.lohudblogs.com.

[Kentucky Jet]

Giants ready to throw 1-2 punch at Jets

By ERNIE PALLADINO

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: October 7, 2007)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward could barely contain themselves when they spoke of their combined rushing potential last week.

Imagine, a two-headed rushing attack featuring a pair of tough, bulky tailbacks to pound and pound and pound the Jets' run defense. It's the kind of setup they could never get with Tiki Barber still in the lineup.

He got all the carries back then.

Now, with Jacobs ready to return from a sprained right knee and Ward's productivity still strong despite a sprained left ankle, the twosome is ready to split carries against a Jets defense that hasn't done particularly well against the run.

As odd as it sounds coming off an era where Barber became the team's top all-time ground gainer, the Giants could be suffering from an embarrassment of riches in today's 1 p.m. matchup. It's not just Jacobs and Ward, after all, but also Reuben Droughns in the short-yardage game and Ahmad Bradshaw as a changeup possibility.

"BJ's back, and now we have as formidable a running-back combination as any in the league," Ward said. "You see Steven Jackson out in St. Louis or Laurence Maroney in New England, they're hurt. But we've got four backs who can do the job."

Two of whom will be the biggest challenge for the coaching staff. Ward has earned carries with performances of 89, 90, 94, and 80 yards in Jacobs' absence.

"Why waste the talent we have?" Jacobs said. "I'm sure the coaches have some kind of game plan to use what we have. I'd love to get 40 carries, but that's not the way it goes. It's a long season and I'm trying to have a long career. You need two backs.

"Whatever falls in that right order of how things go, that's the way to go. If Derrick's hot, leave him out there. If I'm hot, leave me out there. All we want to do is win."

The backfield situation could turn into a long-lasting benefit for the Giants. Or, if coach Tom Coughlin doesn't find the right balance, it could turn into a train wreck, with one or the other taking a beating and aggravating the existing injuries.

One thing is for sure, though. Today is the ideal testing ground against an ideal opponent. The Jets are ranked 16th against the run. Jonathan Vilma has more characteristics of a middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense than an inside guy in a 3-4.

Before holding Buffalo to 86 yards, the Jets gave up 100-yard rushing performances to New England, Baltimore and Miami. But that was only because the Bills threw so much.

Each of those teams had the basic featured-back setup. The closest thing the Jets have seen to an even split came in Week 1, when Maroney (20 carries) and Sammy Morris (11 carries) went for 126 of New England's 134 total rushing yards.

The run defense, which has given up four touchdowns, is a big reason the 1-3 Jets' season totters on a steep ledge today. And the 2-2 Giants would prefer not to be their rescuers.

"Obviously, we're going to utilize the talents of everybody that we can," Coughlin said.

The Jacobs-Ward tandem could even help inside the opponent's 20, where the Giants have had to trade touchdowns for field goals once again.

"We've definitely got guys," left tackle David Diehl said. "We've got talent. We've got to concentrate on getting some consistent offense."

Jacobs saw the numbers and was not convinced the Jets are an easy mark.

"The Jets are very fast," Jacobs said. "But they can also play heavy. They're not a light team by any means. You got a defense where they've got some 250-pound linebackers and a 220-pound safety. They come downhill and they flow side-to-side, so it's going to be an interesting game.

"Jonathan Vilma's a very athletic guy. He plays every well in the passing game, and he's going to get that straggly tackle that everyone else misses. I don't take anything away from any of those guys."

Finding a solid ground effort might take the air out of them, however. As solid as Ward has been, the Giants haven't been over 100 yards as a team since their 124-yard effort against the Cowboys on opening day. That's when Jacobs got his only six carries of the year, for 26 yards, before he got hit on the side of the knee.

Now, it's a matter of finding a good mix of two big but different backs.

"It doesn't matter to me," Ward said. "Whoever's hot is hot. If we're both hot, we'll have over 200 (yards) combined. If we both have 20 carries apiece, hopefully we'll have 250 combined.

"As long as we get that rushing attack going, we'll be fine."

Reach Ernie Palladino at epalladi@lohud.com and read his Giants Journal blog at www.giants.lohudblogs.com.

[BP]

Privately, the Giants are licking their chops. They see Pennington as an immobile quarterback who can't throw the ball more than 20 yards downfield. They will try to get in his face and attempt to jump receivers' routes.

That's what I've been seeing too, and the Bills were definitely jumping routes last week.

The Jets better come up with a different game plan or we are doomed.

Thanks for posting the info, KJ.

[Kentucky Jet]

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/articles/show/1679-weird-n-j-jets-on-the-road-in-their-house

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets in dire need of a win, but not ready to admit it

Sunday, October 7, 2007

By J.P. PELZMAN

STAFF WRITER

When the Jets' players emerge from the Giants Stadium tunnel today just before 1 o'clock, they will see a lot more blue than they're accustomed to, both in the stands and on the walls.

That's because this is a home game for the Giants. But based on what the Jets have said during the week leading up to the game, they barely should notice the difference.

"The whole philosophy is to treat each game the same," right guard Brandon Moore explained. "Being even keel throughout the season is coach [Eric] Mangini's approach. We're not trying to get into a make or break situation. Some teams have started 1-3 and other teams have started 4-0. You can't make one game more important than another because you'll get caught up in situations that you won't like. Guys are going out and trying to get win No. 2 and that's how we'll approach it."

Mangini and his players have refrained from calling this a must-win game and have downplayed the intra-stadium rivalry. But the fact remains that no matter who they face today, the 1-3 Jets definitely need a victory. Just don't expect them to say that.

"You don't want to put unnecessary pressure on yourself or on the team," linebacker Jonathan Vilma said, "especially when you're in a situation like this, because you start doing things out of character. When you put that pressure on yourself, you go out there and try too hard and try to make too many plays. That's not healthy. You want to go out there and win every week. You shouldn't put more pressure on yourself in this game because you will end up messing up more than helping the team.

"The good thing is that the attitude of the team, the character of the team, hasn't changed."

Still, the Jets can't deny that 1-3 is a tough hole to climb out of for a team with postseason aspirations, and 1-4 would be that much tougher.

"I told a few people that I have been in this situation before," cornerback Andre Dyson said, "and made it to the AFC Championship Game."

Dyson started every game in 2002 for a Tennessee team that dropped to 1-3 with a 52-35 blowout loss at Oakland, yet faced the Raiders again in the AFC title game, and lost again. In fact, the Titans fell to 1-4 before winning 10 of their last 11 regular-season games, capturing the AFC South title and a first-round bye.

"It is possible," Dyson said. "You just have to take it one game at a time and keep moving on after that."

Eighth-year wide receiver Laveranues Coles is one of three current Jets' starters who also started on the 2002 squad that began 1-4 but finished as the AFC East champs at 9-7 under then-coach Herm Edwards, and reached the AFC divisional playoffs, where they lost to Oakland. Defensive end Shaun Ellis and quarterback Chad Pennington are the others who started on that team.

Yet Coles doesn't believe that particular muscle memory can help in 2007.

"No, it's in the past," he said. "It was a different coaching staff. It had a different head coach. It was a different environment, totally different altogether.

"We're just continuing to work hard. That's all you can do at this point."

Now the Jets need that hard work in practice to manifest itself in crisp, winning execution on game day.

"You can't dwell on [team] records too much," kicker Mike Nugent said. "It's all about who shows up that day and who puts everything together."

E-mail: pelzman@northjersey.com

7204858

[Kentucky Jet]

By KAREN CROUSE

Published: October 7, 2007

The Indians summer in New York is a mixed blessing for the wife of the Jets

[Kentucky Jet]

First-round friendship is secondary

CBs Ross, Revis formed a bond before being drafted by Giants, Jets

Sunday, October 07, 2007

BY M.A. MEHTA

Star-Ledger Staff

When Darrelle Revis collapsed onto his bed, poked and prodded all day like some sort of lab specimen in seventh-grade biology class, the last thing he wanted to do was talk shop with his new roommate.

Aaron Ross needed a break, too.

So they forgot about the Wonderlic test and bench press reps, escaping the questions that filled their hours at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February.

A couple months before Revis and Ross were scooped up by the Jets and Giants, respectively, in the first round of this year's NFL Draft, the pair of cornerbacks forged a friendship inside their dorm room, gabbing like a bunch of pre-teens at overnight camp. They discussed just about everything ... except football.

"Once we were done with the meetings, we got to the room and just chilled," said the 6-0, 193-pound Ross. "Football was out the window."

Revis and Ross share the same easygoing exterior, but they spring to life on the field, a pair of future stars that could solidify shaky secondaries in New York. Their paths intersect for the first time in the regular season today when the Giants host the Jets at the Meadowlands.

Ross, a first-team All-American at Texas, won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back after recording 80 tackles and six interceptions as a senior.

Revis, a three-year starter at Pittsburgh, became a YouTube star with his eye-catching 73-yard punt return for a touchdown against West Virginia -- when he cut across the field, weaved through several defenders down the sideline and eluded the final would-be tackler with a nifty spin move -- that won him the 2006 "College Football Play of the Year" by ESPN.

"Everybody," said Jets cornerback and Pittsburgh alum Hank Poteat, "knows about that play."

Revis and Ross had admired each other's work from afar, catching snippets here and there on television. Jealousy never surfaced when they first met at the combine.

We hit it off right away," said the 5-11, 204-pound Revis, who didn't participate in running or position drills at the combine due to a strained hamstring. "We're good friends now. It's almost like (he's) a brother or family member. You care about the dude."

Revis and Ross, of course, will be forever linked after a hectic draft day. The comparisons are sure to follow both players for years after the Jets traded up 11 spots -- and leapfrogged the Giants -- to nab Revis with the 14th overall pick.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese admitted back then that he attempted to move up for a pair of corners -- Revis and Leon Hall from Michigan -- but the asking price was too high. So the Giants selected Ross with the 20th pick.

The Jets, who were also interested in Ross, took a more aggressive approach to land Revis.

"You try to look at the draft from a tactical standpoint and strategize what you can do and can't do," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said this week. "But there was nothing magical about going in front of Cincinnati (who took Hall at No. 18) or the Giants."

Revis and Ross maintain that they never discussed playing in New York together. Draft day was a blur for both.

"My head was spinning," Revis said. "I didn't know where I was going to go. So it was just up in the air. I think I can speak for Leon and Aaron that we knew that when one of us got picked early, the other guys would be one or two or three picks around the corner."

Revis and Ross have had mixed results through the first four games of the season. Revis was inserted into the starting lineup shortly after a 20-day training camp holdout -- the longest for a Jet since Keyshawn Johnson sat out 24 days as the top overall pick in 1996.

Revis played well in his first three games (21 tackles, two pass breakups) before Bills' rookie quarterback Trent Edwards picked on him last week. Edwards threw in Revis' direction 11 times -- completing nine passes for 83 yards. Revis -- defending the slot receiver after playing on the outside in college -- responded with a key pass break-up that forced the Bills to punt and gave the Jets one final chance with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

He might have to cover the bigger and stronger Jeremy Shockey in the slot today.

I like his approach after he gets into a difficult situation," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "He has had some challenging plays. You're always looking for a player -- especially the cornerback -- to have a short memory."

Ross needs to suffer from a different kind of selective amnesia, hoping to break the trend of highly drafted Giants cornerbacks -- like Will Allen and Will Peterson in 2001 and Corey Webster in 2005 -- that haven't panned out.

Ross was used in nickel and dime pass coverages the first couple of weeks before taking over for a struggling Webster in the second half of the Giants' come-from-behind win against the Redskins in Week 3. Ross, who was instrumental in the Giants' fourth-and-goal defensive stand that sealed the victory over the Redskins, made his first career start last week against the Eagles.

A month into their pro careers, the rookies are well aware of New York's unforgiving spotlight.

"Any little thing he or I do wrong will be blown up," Ross said. "If I was to get beat on a play or he was to get beat on a play, we're going to hear about it."

For now, Revis and Ross share a simple mantra: Study, prepare and enjoy the ride.

But will they chat like they do before most games or screen their calls?

"I'll talk to him," Revis said earlier in the week, laughing at the question. "It ain't like that. We're friends.

"It's not like he's a wide receiver."

Mike Garafolo contributed to this story.

M.A. Mehta may be reached

at mmehta@starledger.com

[Kentucky Jet]

NOTHING RIVALS THIS MATCHUP

By PAUL SCHWARTZ

Brandon Jacobs

Oct7, 2007 -- In the old days, Giants and Jets players lived near each other, often in the same Manhattan apartment building. They exchanged elbows (and sometimes fisticuffs) on the basketball court during the offseason and socialized in the same bars and restaurants.

Matchup Analysis

Nowadays, with the Giants almost exclusively residing in New Jersey and the Jets buying and renting on Long Island, the familiarity is considerably more nondescript. That doesn't mean today's encounter will be just another day at Giants Stadium.

"There are so many games in the NFL that you can't just focus on one and say that is your rival," Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "We have to prepare like any other week."

But if the Jets win?

"You won't brag about it, but the chest will stick out a little bit more," he admitted.

Anyone who was not with these teams the last time they squared off back in 2003 (the vast majority of both rosters) doesn't have a clue what to expect once the hits start flying. These clubs go at each other in the regular season once every four years, and annually in the preseason, and what can't be denied today is the Giants (2-2) come in on a roll and surging with confidence while the Jets (1-3) are suddenly in save-the-season mode.

"I would say there's more hype with Washington and Dallas and Philly, those are the most important games," Giants receiver Plaxico Burress said. "There's a lot of rivalries in the NFL, I think this is one of 'em. I guess you could say it's a rivalry in New York City. That's fine for the fans, I hope they treat it as that; for the guys who are going to walk out on that football field, I don't think it's any more important or any more hype than if we were playing anyone else."

A closer look into the New York Bowl:

SACKS EXCHANGED

The Giants are tied for the NFL lead with 16 sacks; the Jets have three. The team that protects its quarterback figures to have a huge advantage, and recent history suggests the Giants are in business here. How in the world is the Jets' suspect offensive line going to deal with what the Giants bring to this party? D'Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle is going to need loads of help dealing with Osi "Six-sack" Umenyiora, and guards Adrien Clarke and Brandon Moore should have their hands full dealing with the inside force delivered by natural ends Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka lined up at defensive tackle. The Jets need to make sure they don't get Chad Pennington knocked out of this game.

"In the passing game, they have an array of moves, they are very athletic, they have long arms and they play to their advantages," Moore said. "They are very dangerous in that sense."

BIG MAN COMETH

Six carries into the season, Brandon Jacobs went down with sprained knee ligaments. Now he's back, meaning Tiki Barber's heir apparent finally can take his place in the Giants backfield. Derrick Ward filled in superbly, but more dynamic running is needed, and bruising Jacobs is supposed to have the goods to deliver.

The Jets aren't especially stout up front but have been able to neutralize the ground game of opponents. Jacobs dismissed the notion that this is a favorable matchup, given the smallish nature of the Jets defense.

"They fly around, they're very fast, they run well side to side," Jacobs said, "so we're going to have some things in place to get 'em out of position."

NO SNAP

The Giants certainly appear to be tempting fate with their field goal operation; rookie snapper Jay Alford is not nearly as consistent as he needs to be. If something goes haywire sometime soon and it costs the Giants a game, no one can say they weren't forewarned.

MENSA MEETING

There's no denying the Jets last season were remarkably fortunate with the health of their players and were exceedingly well-coached, prompting those clever Mangenius headlines and references. The Jets, according to the buzz, had the new-age coach in Eric Mangini, the Giants had the dinosaur dictator in Tom Coughlin. Well, it's time for Mangini to do something smart, something to tilt today's game in his favor. If he does, all of New York's football eyes will be watching.

PAUL'S PREDICTION

GIANTS - 27

JETS - 20

Earlier in the week the inclination was to go with the Jets based on their desperation, but a quick study of the rosters and seasons to date all point to the Giants, unless they fall into relaxation mode. Eli Manning should have time to throw and he's due for a sharp day. No 12-sack game this time, but pressure should be there.

paul.schwartz@nypost.com

[Kentucky Jet]

DANDY DOZEN

SERBY'S TOP 12 NEW YORK PLAYERS Eli Manning

October 7, 2007 -- WITH Jets vs. Giants today temporarily interrupting the Yankees' quest for survival, this is the perfect time to give you Serby's Dirty Dozen - the best football players in New York.

The rankings are based largely on how the player stacks up in 2007 with peers at his position, and partly on his recent body of work.

The Best Player in New York award goes to Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who has dominated (6 TDs) even with a severe ankle sprain.

The envelope, please:

1. WR Plaxico Burress (Giants): His 9-month-old son Elijah has given Eli Manning's go-to guy new perspective.

"I don't let too many things really bother me about football anymore, I just brush it off and keep on going, and I think that's one of the reasons why I've been able to put things behind me if I have a bad play," Burress said.

Elijah is always in his thoughts. "I wake up in the morning and I'm like, I gotta put clothes and shoes on this little boy, so I gotta get ready to go," Burress said.

Are you good at changing diapers? "I'm a professional," Burress said.

He's been undressing cornerbacks in his spare time.

"He's gonna go up and pluck the ball out of the air; if the ball's thrown his way, he pretty much comes down with it, you know, jump-ball situations, so you have to play your technique with him," Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said.

2. DE Osi Umenyiora (Giants): His six-sack rampage against Donovan McNabb raised eyebrows around the league. "Impact player," said CBS NFL insider Charley Casserly, the former Redskins and Texans GM. "You have to game plan against him."

3. G Chris Snee (Giants): Being Tom Coughlin's son-in-law had nothing to do with him being named a Pro Bowl alternate the past two seasons. "Physical on-the-line blocker," Casserly said.

4. C Nick Mangold (Jets): Tough, smart, high-character, loves football: the prototypical Eric Mangini Jet.

"He's a physical center, and he's a smart center, too: he's calling out protections just like Chad (Pennington) is," Rhodes said.

5. WR Laveranues Coles (Jets): Savvy and quick and as tough and as clutch (4 TDs) as they come. Teammates voted him MVP last year and offensive captain this year. "He's a complete receiver," Rhodes said.

6. WR Jerricho Cotchery (Jets): "Jerricho's a very, very, very good route runner," Rhodes said. Very dangerous after getting the ball. "Has a knack to make the tough catch," Casserly said.

7. QB Eli Manning (Giants): Still a long way to go, but a better decision-maker, better leader, with better accuracy. No one's crying about Philip Rivers anymore.

8. TE Jeremy Shockey (Giants): Burress, asked where he would rank his fiery friend, said, "It should be me slash him, or him slash me. Sometimes our offense struggles because we're not doing enough things to get him the football. He's frustrated, and I'm frustrated for him, because I know how much of a competitor he is, and I know it's killing him."

Has been plagued by several ill-timed drops and a game plan that needs to start featuring him early and often starting today.

"He plays hard when he's out there, even if he's hurt," Rhodes said. "He's pretty much a receiving tight end; he can move, he can get open."

9. Chad Pennington (Jets): The bum ankle undoubtedly isn't helping his Greg Maddux fastball, but people are too quick to forget the guy is a playoff quarterback.

"The Pennington I'm talking about is the guy who played last year: smart, accurate passer who had great anticipation, could get the ball out there quick to compensate for his lack of arm strength, and was very efficient," Casserly said.

10. S Kerry Rhodes (Jets): Has yet to hit anticipated Pro Bowl stride. "Playmaking safety who has a knack to find the ball," Casserly said.

11. DE Michael Strahan (Giants): Big Blue sack champ no longer consistently beats you physically, but knows enough tricks to beat you mentally.

12. MLB Antonio Pierce (Giants): "The best thing he does," Casserly said, "is find the ball."

Jets RB Thomas Jones, slowed by that calf and unsettled offensive line, will be on the list before too long, and Jets ILB Jonathan Vilma easily would have made it had he not been miscast in the 3-4.

steve.serby@nypost.com

[Kentucky Jet]

IT'S BEEN ROCKY FOR RHODES

By MARK CANNIZZARO

Kerry Rhodes- October 7, 2007 -- What's up with Kerry Rhodes?

The Jets safety had such a terrific year making big plays last season that when he wasn't voted to the Pro Bowl it was viewed around the NFL as a travesty.

Entering today's game against the Giants, the Jets' fifth of the season, Rhodes, who had four interceptions, three forced fumbles and five sacks last season, has one interception, no sacks and no forced fumbles. He's 11th on the team with 13 tackles after recording 92 last season, fifth on the team.

"Everyone wants to make big plays," Rhodes said. "I always put pressure on myself to make big plays."

In fairness to Rhodes, he hasn't been blitzed as often this year as last season, sent once in each of the past two weeks. Both times his pressure was effective.

"I play whatever the coaches put us in," Rhodes said, reticent about lobbying for more blitzing, though you could see in his eyes he wants more. "It's what the scheme dictates, and our schemes are game-plan specific.

"I have been back (in coverage) a little bit more this year," Rhodes went on. "I've just got to do what the coaches ask me to do. It's a tough situation, but whatever they put me in is going to help the team."

*

CB Andre Dyson, who made an interception last week in Buffalo, has finally broken back into the base defense and he said he feels pretty good. Dyson is splitting time with David Barrett opposite Darrelle Revis.

"Obviously, I'd like to be out there every play, every down, but that's not what they want me to do for whatever reason," Dyson said. "It felt good to get back in. It gets old standing on the sideline watching everyone play. You just get antsy to get out there.

"Last game was the first time I got extended action (this season) and it felt good. I was sore on Monday, and it felt good because I knew I was participating."

Dyson, who started every game last season, was slowed by a foot injury in training camp, and Barrett began the season as the starter.

*

After being left on the inactive list last week, look for FB Darian Barnes to be in uniform this week. Barnes offered this take on the Giants' 12-sack defensive performance: "It was really impressive. It was like watching a Madden (video) game, like it wasn't even real."

*

WR Jerricho Cotchery said his life "has been based around rivalries" in sports, mentioning local and state rivals from pee-wee football through middle school, high school and college.

"And now I come here (to the Jets) and we have the Giants," he said.

"You go out and see those guys a lot, so you want to know that you beat those guys," Cotchery said. "You won't brag about it, but the chest will stick out a little bit more rather than sagging, knowing you lost to them."

*

Count Cotchery as one player who's not surprised at the success Giants RB Derrick Ward has had since being given a chance to play. Ward, playing for injured Brandon Jacobs, is the Giants' leading rusher.

Cotchery and Ward were drafted by the Jets in 2004 and were roommates. Ward, who fought injury issues as a rookie in his first training camp, was placed on the practice squad, where he was signed from by the Giants.

"I always knew he was a good back," Cotchery said. "He's been a good back; that's why the Giants kept him around."

*

Veteran LB David Bowens on handling the pressure of today being a must win: "Being 1-3, the most important thing is we have to eliminate the distractions. We can't get caught up on us playing at home but being the visiting team. We can't get caught up on there might be more Giants fans than Jets fans. We can't get caught up on (the Giants) having 12 sacks last week. That's irrelevant to what we're doing this week."

*

Eric Mangini said it'll be a bit odd playing at home when it's not a home game.

"It's a very different walk through the tunnel when you're playing the Giants and they're the home team," he said. "(The Giants fans) are a little less friendly than our group. It's a city full of passionate, passionate fans. Jets fans are passionate. Giants fans are passionate. And to be able to play each other, it's always exciting. I appreciate that element of it."

[Kentucky Jet]

SERBY'S SUNDAY Q&A WITH...

CHRIS BAKER

By STEVE SERBY

October 7, 2007 -- The Post's Steve Serby chatted with the 6-3, 258-pound tight end for the Jets, who will take on the Giants today in the Meadowlands:

Q: Tight ends you enjoy watching?

A: Antonio Gates. I know him, he came to Michigan State for half a year. Tony Gonzalez ... he's a complete tight end. I kinda identify with him - I'm not saying I'm Tony Gonzalez or anything like that - but as a guy that does everything on the field.

Q: Jeremy Shockey?

A: He brings a lot of energy to (the Giants), which a lot of times you actually don't get out of the tight end.

Q: Why don't you tell the coaches, "Just give me the damn ball"?

A: (Chuckles) That's not my personality ... at all. So I would never do that. Just when I get my opportunity, try and make the best of it.

Q: Spygate?

A: (Chuckles) I thought it was more funny than anything, just the fact that that stuff goes on, 'cause we as players don't know anything about it.

Q: Commissioner Roger Goodell's Personal Conduct Policy?

A: I'd say you got 98 percent of guys in the league doing what they're supposed to do, and doing a lot of good in the community and a lot of good in different aspects of life. And then you get a couple of guys that do some things that are just kinda out of control, and it puts a bad image on everybody else in the league as a whole.

Q: Plaxico Burress was your teammate at Michigan State.

A: His last game there, we played in a bowl game against Florida. No one gave the team a chance ... he took it real personally and pretty much dominated the game.

Q: Ever hang with him?

A: (We're) kinda similar ... you keep to yourself a little bit, you got a couple of close friends and things like, but not the life-of-the-party type person.

Q: How does Eric Mangini's coaching style differ from Nick Saban's?

A: Coach Mangini is not a guy that's gonna sit there and yell at you and do all this stuff in front of a bunch of other people; Coach Saban, he'll get after you.

Q: Best Chad Pennington memory?

A: Last year, coming back in the first game; he had been counted out by a lot of people after the second (shoulder) injury.

Q: Best Jet moment?

A: (Dec. 29, 2002 vs. the Packers). Getting the news in the first quarter that New England had beat Miami ... the feeling that came over the stadium ... and then knowing that, "OK, we win and we're in," the way that all came together. And then once we had gotten into the playoffs, the following week we just had kinda like this invincible feeling going into the game like, "All right, we're here," and then we go out and (beat the Colts) 41-0. That was my first touchdown.

Q: Worst Jet moment?

A: The (2004) Pittsburgh (playoff) loss. To be that close in going to the AFC Championship game ... to have it right there ... twice. And pretty much after that game, everything just kinda declined from there on out. And then the whole regime changed, everything changed.

Q: Why did you move from 144-88 Dormans Rd. in St. Albans (Queens) to Michigan when you were 14?

A: I didn't have much direction at that time. I didn't really have an idea of what I wanted to do. It was just a better situation for me, my mom was out there at that point in time. It was more of a stable home environment.

Q: Did you know Mark Jackson?

A: He used to be at O'Connor Park all the time. My dad was older than him; right before Mark went to St. John's, they used to always play. My dad and his friends ruled the park, and then Mark was up and coming.

Q: Your mom convinced you not to quit high school football?

A: The message was, "You can't quit at everything in life 'cause you'll never get anything accomplished."

Q: You have a baby son, Chris Jr., and 13-year-old stepdaughter, Brittany; describe your girlfriend Yadira.

A: She does a good job of taking care of home.

Q: What's fatherhood like?

A: It's great. Even the days when I come here (Weeb Ewbank Hall) real tired from being up all night, it's a good feeling knowing that you're responsible for somebody ... just in the fact that everything I do now is for him as opposed to before, everything I did was for me. It's a life-changing experience.

Q: You have your own travel agency - www.CBsplendidtravel.com; what's your favorite travel spot?

A: Rome and Venice were both real cool; Cancun, I would say, is my No. 1 spot.

Q: Your brother, Vince Helmuth, is the backup fullback at Michigan; do you root for Michigan?

A: No. I don't root for Michigan. I root for him, but I took as much joy in the Appalachian State thing as every other Spartan did (smiles).

Q: Boyhood idol?

A: Lawrence Taylor.

Q: Were you a Giant fan?

A: I was both, Jets and Giants.

Q: Favorite Jet?

A: Al Toon.

Q: Did you go to games?

A: Not many. I went to a ton of basketball games - more Net games than Knick games.

Q: Why was that?

A: Knick games, they were harder to get tickets for back then.

Q: Favorite Net?

A: Buck Williams; Darryl Dawkins.

Q: Favorite Knick?

A: Ewing, of course; Latrell Sprewell.

Q: Where do you fish?

A: Out in my backyard. My house is on the water (Baldwin Harbor).

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Michael Jordan; Nostradamus; Julius Caesar.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: "Scarface."

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Morgan Freeman.

Q: Favorite entertainer?

A: Ne-yo; Ludacris.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Chicken, beans and rice.

Q: What's it like for a New York kid playing for a New York pro team?

A: Really it's a dream come true.

[Kentucky Jet]

It will be a very enjoyable game for us! Go Jets!