Costly Cuts & Cruising Cruz

The NFL season is knocking on the door step, but there are still several notable and intriguing preseason contests. That means, there is still time to access your favorite team before opening kickoff. Last night, Gang Green lost the battle of New York when they were defeated 31-16 in the new stadium at the Meadowlands. Big Blue quarterback, Eli Manning, was battered and bloodied as the Giants beat up the Darrelle Rivas-less Jets to christen their new home.
Monday night football in August began with both teams dominating on defense. Rivas’ holdout aside, Gang Green prevented Manning from completing a pass on the opening drive of the game. Mark Sanchez, the former USC signal-caller and sophomore quarterback for the Jets, threw an interception on his first snap of the game. Giants’ cornerback, Antrel Rolle, snagged the pickoff and ran it back 59 yards to the one yard line. From the one yard line, it took Brandon Jacob three carries to reach the end zone for a 7-0 Giants lead.
Sanchez settled down after his opening interception to tie the game on the Jets’ next drive. Wideout, Brad Smith, grabbed a four yard pass from Sanchez to complete a 68 yard drive at 8:42 in the first quarter. Gang Green added a Nick Folk field goal to forge ahead 10-7 at the end of the first quarter. Manning orchestrated a drive in the second quarter that left him stunned and knocked him out of the game. Manning faked a handoff to Jacobs on a third and two from the Jets five yard line but the ball popped in the air, causing Manning to crash with Calvin Pace. Pace, the sturdy Jets defensive end, sent the quarterback face first into Jim Leonhard. The brutal exchange with Leonhard occurred without Manning’s helmet protecting his head. Manning exited the game with a cut, finishing an uninspiring 4-for-8 behind center. The Giants did recover the fumble, however, and on fourth down tied the game on a 32 yard field goal.
Gang Green carried a 13-10 advantage into halftime following Folk’s second field goal. The Jets’ kicker added a third field goal seven minutes after the break. Jim Sorgi, Manning’s backup, hit free agent receiver, Victor Cruz for a one-handed 64 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Cruz helped Big Blue increase their lead with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns. Sorgi struck Cruz in the end zone after the speedy wideout raced past a Jets defender. Cruz hauled in six receptions for 145 yards during the win, including a five yard pass from Rhett Bomar to finish the fourth quarter scoring. It was arguably the best preseason receiver performance since Terrell Owens’ 49er days. Sanchez completed 13 of 17 passes for 119 yards. The Jets’ signal-caller does have poise and accuracy, but I don’t see him becoming a gunslinger any time soon. I think Rex Ryan should enact more running plays on offense. As for Tom Coughlin and the Giants, they won the game, but may have suffered the bigger loss. Preseason games are essentially meaningless and for Big Blue to lose Manning for even a game would be an incredible setback. Chewing up their cross-town rivals in August is one thing. Missing Manning for the real deal is quite entirely another.

Parting Points: The Rays are hanging around—to nobody’s surprise. I can’t wait for September baseball. The AL East is up for grabs and the NL West looks like another tight pennant race to the finish.

RIP Bobby Thomson.