The Giant Leader

Scott Hanson sits down with Tom Coughlin to discuss the outlook for the 2009 New York Giants.

Die Hard's breakout players for the upcoming season

1. Kenny Phillips: He is the first person that comes to mind. As some of you may know, Phillips was by far my favorite draft pick of the New York Giants over the past 5 seasons. Phillips came from one of the perennial power houses in college football at the University of Miami and was by far the best safety in college football during his 3 year tenure. Phillips will be taking over a role that recently departed, James Butler has had for 3 seasons. As a 1st round pick and a solid contributor in his rookie season, Phillips will be expected to come in and make a major contribution. He possesses all of the necessary skills to become an elite safety in the NFL. Like former Miami Hurricane safeties, Sean Taylor and Ed Reed, Phillips has all the abilities to become just as good, if not better than these two pro-bowlers if he develops like we think he can. I expect Philips to be a regular on Sports Center highlights for his major hits that he will put on the rest of the NFL.

2. Steve Smith: Eli Manning's most reliable target is going to get every chance to become the go to receiver for the New York Giants for many years to come as a starting wideout this season. If he can show that Giants that he is as reliable as the X or Z receiver, like he is in the slot, he will have one hell of a season. Steve Smith is starting to remind me of one of the most reliable receivers in NFL history in Marvin Harrison. This season is the time for Smith to take his game to the next level and show the world that he is not just a slot receiver in the NFL.

3. Ahmad Bradshaw: The potential replacement to Derrick Ward needs to be ready to take on a role that was a HUGE part of the Giants offense last season. Bradshaw has the power and speed to become a fantastic 1-2 punch with Brandon Jacobs but needs to hold onto the ball and be a more consistent downhill runner to be able to take on this new role. I think Bradshaw has all of the skills to be what Derrick Ward was for the Giants but he needs to be mentally ready and must put his past run-ins with the law behind him once and for all.

4. Aaron Ross: The 2007 1st round pick had a fantastic rookie season followed by a mediocre sophomore season at best. Ross has all the skills to be an elite cornerback in the NFL but he cannot let himself get beat deep like he did last season. Ross is a fantastic cover corner but he seems to take 1 or 2 plays off every game where he lets up a big play. If he can become more consistent, he can take that step to the next level and follow in Corey Webster's footsteps.

SPRINGSTEEN PROCLAIMS RETURN TO NJ AS FINAL MAJOR MUSICAL ACT TO PLAY GIANTS STADIUM SEPT 30, OCT 2, & OCT 3

Bruce Springsteen announced from the stage tonight at his Izod Center concert in East Rutherford, NJ that he and the "legendary" E Street Band will return as the final major musical act to play Giants Stadium on September 30, October 2, and October 3. Tickets go on sale June 1 at 10am Eastern. Springsteen holds the record as the number one selling artist at the Meadowlands (which includes Giants Stadium) in New Jersey, having sold out 56 concerts to date with the E Street Band.

The Working on a Dream tour has earned rave reviews, with Shawn Courchesne of the Hartford Courant proclaiming, "It just got better and better... perfect, simply perfect." Rolling Stone Online proclaimed of a rehearsal concert, "Springsteen seemed to offer a renewed sense of purpose and optimism onstage... rejuvenating and uniting a people in danger of losing their faith."

"He's the best there is," exclaimed Melissa Baron of SF Weekly, "Springsteen played so hard that sweat dripped off his whole body." Ricardo Baca of The Denver Post wrote, "Springsteen is a better showman today than in 1984," while Mike Ragogna said in the Huffington Post, "If you haven't been to one of Springsteen's shows in a while, you need to catch this tour." Meanwhile Sarah Rodman of the Boston Globe writes, "Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band don't have to play for two hours and 40 minutes. Nor, when they play, is it a requirement that Springsteen fall to his knees, shimmy and shake, attack his guitar like he's still discovering new sounds it can make, or take audience requests that he and his band don't know how to play... Springsteen and his band did all of that and more." Martin Cizmar of The Phoenix New Times had never seen Springsteen live. "I'm not from Jersey, I didn't grow up with The Boss and I'd never seen him play before," Cizmar admits, "but I will say that nearly everything you've heard or read about a Springsteen show is true. The fans are rabid, the set marathon, Springsteen a first-rate showman."

'Working on a Dream' (Columbia Records) debuted at #1 in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and New Zealand and received exemplary reviews in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.

Giants Can’t Sell PSLs

By Mike Florio - ProFootballTalk.com 5/22/09